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Property of

The Oleott Library
and

Research Center

The Theosophical Society
in America
P. O. Box 270

Wheaton

Illinois 60187

NINETY-SIXTH ANNUAL
GENERAL REPORT OF THE
THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

1971

Published by

THE RECORDING SECRETARY,

THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, ADYAR,
MADRAS 20, INDIA

APRIL 1972

Price Rs. 8

C fcfc

57^-6

April 1972

Printed at the Vasanta Press, The Theosophical Society, Adyar, Madras 20, India

CONTENTS

II.

Annual Convention:

The Presidential Address .

The Treasurer’s Report (Sec Annexe for Annual Accounts for 1970-71)

Reports of the General Secretaries

. 11

The Theosophical Society in the United States of America

. 13

»»

England

. 41

»»

India

. 43

»»

Australia

. 48

»»

Sweden

. 55

»»

New Zealand

. 56

»*

Netherlands

. 59

»»

France

. 60

»»

Italy

. 60

Germany

. 61

*»

»»

Cuba

. 62

»»

Hungary

No report

»»

Finland

. 63

»»

Russia

Dissolved

*»

»»

Czechoslovakia

No report

»#

»»

Southern Africa

. 64

»*

»»

Scotland

. 65

»»

Switzerland

. 66

»»

Belgium

. 66

Indonesia

Suspended

•i

»*

Burma

. 67

*»

Austria

. 68

»»

Norway

. 69

•i

»»

Egypt (Lodges only)

No report

*»

Denmark

•

. 70

»»

Ireland

•

. 71

t»

Mexico

•

. 71

*»

Canada

•

. 72

»»

Argentina

•

. 73

»»

Chile

•

No report

»»

Brazil

•

. 74

PA OB

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

PAGE

The Theosophical Society in Bulgaria

No report

Iceland

. 77

Spain

No report

Portugal

. 79

Wales

. 79

•f

Poland

No report

Uruguay

. 80

Puerto Rico

. 81

Rumania

No report

Yugoslavia

. 82

Ceylon

. 83

Greece

Central America

. 86

Paraguay

Dissolved

Philippines

. 87

Colombia

. 91

East Africa

. 92

Pakistan Presidential Agency

No report

Malaysia Federation .

No report

Northern Ireland Federation

. 94

Vict-Nam

. 94

Venezuela Presidential Agency

. 98

West African Federation

. 98

Bolivia Presidential Agency

. 99

Canadian Federation

. 100

European Federation

. 100

Lodges Attached Direct to Adyar:

Peru

. 103

Hong Kong

No report

Israel

. 105

Singapore

. 106

Japan

No report

World Federation of Young

Thcosophists

. 107

Headquarters, 1970-1971

. 115

The Theosophical Publishing House .

. 116

The Adyar Library and Research Centre

. 119

The School of the Wisdom

. 123

Memorandum of Association

• • •

. 124

Rules and Regulations (January 1972)

. 127

Directory for 1972

. . • •

. 138

Minutes of the General Council

. 140

Summary of Statistical Details, 1972 .

. 152

Annexe—Annual Accounts for 1970-71

. 153

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

TO THE 96TH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
OF THE THEOSOPH1CAL SOCIETY

Adyar , December 26 , 1971

By N. SRI RAM, President

I extend to you all a most cordial wel¬
come to the 96th annual Convention of
the Society and to its Headquarters at
Adyar. I devoutly hope you will find here
during your brief sojourn all the peace,
illumination and happiness you might
desire. We arc meeting in troubled
times and nothing is more needed in the
conditions which exist than the Wisdom
which can cure all human ills. Being
a Wisdom based on the fact of a Brother¬
hood that transcends all divisions and
animosities, it holds, in the last analysis,
the only hope of a really united world
and progress of a sort that will mean
peace and happiness to each and all.

(Rise, Brethren)

May Those who are the embodiments
of Love Immortal bless with Their help
and guidance the Society founded in
furtherance of Their Plans. May They
inspire it with Their wisdom, strengthen
it with Their power and energize it
with Their activity.

(Be seated)

In 1886, eleven years after the Society
came into existence, H. P. Blavatsky
wrote the article entitled “ The Original
Program of the Theosophical Society,’*
which was published in the August 1931

issue of The Theosophist, her Centenary
Number. The article was mainly u
defence of Col. H. S. Olcott against an
attack by two members, who were pro¬
minent at that time, on the way the Society
was run and administered by him.
Although she herself could be his critic
sometimes, she knew him well as her
closest colleague and companion and
wrote about him in this article in most
glowing terms, treating his critics to the
most withering sarcasm. Probably for
this reason it was not printed at that time
in The Theosophist , Col. Olcott being
then its Editor. The article begins by
giving what she called the original program
of the Society, meaning thereby the instruc¬
tions given to her by her Master and
Teacher. She was sent to U.S.A., she
said, in 1873 “ for the purpose of organiz¬
ing a group of workers on a psychic
plane,” and received orders two years
later “ to form a nucleus of a regular
Society ” whose objects were broadly
stated to her. Briefly they were:

1. Universal brotherhood.

2. No distinction to be made by the
member between races, creeds or
social positions; every member to be
judged and dealt with on his per¬
sonal merits.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

3. To study the philosophies of the
East, those of India chiefly, and
interpret exoteric religions in the
light of esoteric teachings.

4. To oppose materialism and
theoretical dogmatism in every
possible way by demonstrating the
existence of occult powers unknown
to Science in Nature, and the pre¬
sence of psychic and spiritual powers
in man.

Although H. P. B. must have had all
this in her mind, she did not state this
at first. The Society came into existence
in that year 1875 in a very casual manner
as though through a chance suggestion
made at a small gathering at the end of
a lecture on an anthropological subject.

Universal Brotherhood was not at
first one of its Objects. During the
following years the Objects were formu¬
lated differently by different groups; and
underwent a process of sifting until they
settled down into their present form.
Incidentally, it might be noticed here
that in this article H. P. B. speaks of her¬
self and Col. Olcott as “ the two chief
Founders ’* and also as “ the two
Founders *\ She says the two Founders
were not told how they had to bring about
the growth of the Society and the results
desired; nor had they any definite ideas
given them concerning the outward organi¬
zation. But they were distinctly told
what they had to avoid and what the
Society should never become. They were
to insist upon sincere fraternal feelings
among the members, the great diversity
of creeds notwithstanding, on great mutual
toleration and mutual help. They had
to oppose in the strongest manner possible
anything approaching dogmatic faith and
fanaticism; belief even in the existence of
the invisible Teachers was not to be a
dogma.

The Objects as finally drawn up have
remained unchanged since 1896, but they

arc so broadly worded that the Society
could easily have assumed a character very
different from what was at first intended
or what it has assumed. Almost any
activity, humanitarian or social, scientific,
philosophical or religious, psychic or
spiritualistic can be brought under their
umbrella. The Society could have turned
into a purely academic body discussing
philosophical and other theses as an
intellectual pastime or a rationalistic body
strongly sceptical of anything mystical or
transcendental or a social service organi¬
sation with various social reform projects.

An emphasis on any of these lines of
thought or activity, all possible under the
three Objects, would have stamped the
Society as a whole with its particular
character. But that has not been the
case. Actually the Society has acquired
a character which has been shaped by
three principal influences: First that of
Universal Brotherhood; secondly, an open
approach to Truth suggested by the words:
“ study and investigation ” in the second
and third Objects; and thirdly, the
writings of H. P. B. and those who have
followed her along that broad avenue
marked as Theosophy in her writings.
The influence just mentioned has tended
on the one hand to assimilate Theosophy
to an occult view of the universe and on
the other to a way of life that can be
spoken of as spiritual, aiming at the
spiritual regeneration of humanity.

Theosophy as the Divine Wisdom must
include all Truth, although what we call
by that name can only be a fragment, but
even so. by its very nature it must have a
message appropriate to each set of
conditions. Looking back over the years
we can trace the developments that have
taken place in the world at large and the
conditions of human life since the begin¬
ning of this century. Now we have come
to a culmination which raises issues of a
fundamental nature: the whole question

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, 1971

of humanity’s survival and future, of war
and violence, of world unity, the place of
Science in human culture, the type of
religion that can unite mankind and foster
its further progress, the limitations of the
human mind, the relationship between
man and Nature, the proper relation
between man and woman, the true
meaning of freedom and the kind of
freedom that man really needs. The
answers to these questions will determine
the nature of the coming times and the
kind of civilization which will develop in
the future. If it is such as to constitute
a widening vista of progress in a real sense,
there must be not only peace but also a
quality different from what obtains at
present in almost all aspects of human
life and endeavor. It cannot be a civili¬
zation which merely multiplies the
numbers and quantities that figure in
statistical analyses pertaining to the
physical needs and cravings of man. nor
can it be a civilization dominated by more
knowledge of the sort we arc accumulating
and more technology.

How to bring about such a civilization,
embodying the true values of life, and
how to help man to face the present
crisis, untroubled even by such conditions
as obtain at present—these arc questions
most relevant to the present times; and
they cannot be answered except with
some grasp of those fundamental truths
regarding both Nature and man, which
is Theosophy.

Miss Joy Mills, National President of
the United States Section, reports continu¬
ing and striking progress virtually in every
area of the programs put into action from
the National Headquarters. The success
of these efforts is attested by the fact that
the membership of the Section had risen
during the year to 5.896. Of these. 1,034
were new members. A peculiar feature
of the Section is that not less than 39 per
cent of the total arc members at large.

that is, not attached to any of the 109
Branches and 43 Study Centres in that
country. The programs include the
regional expansion activities which have
drawn large audiences. In one place,
Seattle, there was an initial audience of
well over one thousand. The Report says
that Study Weekends and Week-long
Seminars are becoming increasingly
popular. These arc arranged and largely
helped by the Education Department
which provides Lodges and Study Centres
with material and guidance for their
programs. Miss Mills herself conducted
week-long seminars on The Secret Doctrine
at “ Olcott,” the National Headquarters,
and in two of the Theosophical Summer
Camps, the Far Horizons Camp in
Northern California and the Orcas Island
Camp near the Pacific Coast. A new
Theosophical Camp similar to the three
already existing was established during
the year in the Ozark area.

The Theosophical Publishing House at
Wheaton has recorded a very considerable
increase in its sales, the sale of the
Quest books alone being 50,000 over the
previous year’s total. A noteworthy event
was the bringing out of a new edition of
Isis Unveiled, First Volume, edited by
Mr. de Zirkoff. Unfortunately, during
the year there was a fire in the T. P. H
building at “Olcott” but no serious
damage was done. The progress made
in so many different directions would not
have been possible, says Miss Mills,
without the generous help of the Kern
Foundation.

The Report from the English Section
indicates that the activities there go on
much as usual. The General Secretary,
Mr. Farthing, draws attention to the
fact that a very large proportion of its
membership is over 60 years of age in the
case of women and 65 in the case of men.
However, amongst the new members a
reasonable proportion consists of young

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

people, and the Bookshop sales have risen
to three times those of last year. Three
new study courses for individual members
and groups have been started: one of
them as a reading guide to The Secret
Doctrine, another a study course in The
Secret Doctrine and the third one a course
on The Mahatma Letters. Mr. Farthing
says one area where they have had some
success is in meditations open to the
public. Those who come arc put through
concentration, visualization and thinking
exercises followed by material in the
form of fundamental Thcosophical
concepts or material for the devotee and
aspirant. The number of members in
England is 2,369.

The General Secretary for India, Mrs.
Radha Burnier, remarks that the work
of the Society is uphill and likely to be
so for a long time to come. During the
year a very large number of places were
visited by lecturers, and there were
numerous study and training camps as
well as conferences, including the annual
South Indian Conference and the Workers
Conference at Adyar, and two study
camps in Bhowali in the Himalayas.
Following the Convention at Adyar in
December 1970. a Theosophy-Science
seminar was organized and it was
conducted by Mr. Fritz Kunz who had
come to Adyar for the Convention along
with Mrs. Kunz.

One of the difficulties which have to
be overcome in India is the number of
different languages. This necessitates the
translation of Theosophical books into
all these languages for which the necessary
funds have to be found. H. P. B.’s
book Practical Occultism was translated
during the year into Telugu and Bengali.

Along with various other organizations,
the Theosophical Order of Service in
India has been active organizing relief
for the refugees from Bangla Desh (East
Bengal) whose numbers have been rising

to over 10 millions. The New Life for
India groups have also been participating
in this task.

Mrs. Burnier remarks apropos of all
the suffering in this part of the world and
also in others: “The earnestness of one’s
endeavor to understand Theosophy and
its profound significance depends upon the
intensity with which one feels the need
of wisdom to dispel the darkness of
ignorance and suffering. To the earnest
Theosophist whose heart is full of concern
and deep sympathy it is faith in the
ultimate destiny of man and his immortal
nature that sheds the rays of hope and
inspiration necessary to direct his foot¬
steps towards the distant light.” The
number of members in India is now
7,710.

Among the English-speaking Sections,
Australia and New Zealand are the next
largest. The General Secretary for
Australia, Miss Ruth Beringcr, writes
that the Section’s membership was 1,793
on September 30th. A new Lodge was
founded in Canberra, the capital of the
Australian Commonwealth. There has
been an increase in the number of members
in the Adelaide and Melbourne Lodges.
Miss Helen Zahara made a much-
appreciated tour of Australia during the
months of February to April, visiting
eight Lodges. The number of members
in New Zealand is 1,156. The work there
is being carried on with devotion and
enthusiasm. The Section will be celebrat¬
ing the completion of 75 years of steady
work at its Convention this year.

The Report from Viet-Nam which has
15 Lodges and 947 members records
continuous activity on the part of its
Lodges. The Section has a number of
young members. Mmc. Hai. the General
Secretary, writes that they arc all
enthusiastic and eager to serve. In one
place some of them meet daily for Theo¬
sophical study and for services to the

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, 1971

Lodge. She gives a detailed account of
the program of each of these Lodges.

The Philippines Section, says Miss
Cleo Gregorio, the General Secretary, has
doubled its strength, thanks to a visit
from Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Hodson who
stayed there for three months and carried
on a seminar under the title “ The School
of the Wisdom She says many
Catholics were attracted by these talks.

The important event for the Sections
of Latin America during the year was
the holding of the third Inter-American
Congress in Bogota, Colombia, in
February last. It was attended by
delegates from various Sections giving
them the opportunity to become better
acquainted with one another and for
interchange of ideas amongst the principal
workers in them. Mr. Spairani was
elected President of the Federation.

Mr. Manuel Farinich, the new General
Secretary for Argentina, records consider¬
able activity in which the youth
groups participate, helping the Lodges in
their areas. A number of speakers were
sent to visit the Lodges and lecture in
them. A Theosophical course was broad¬
cast over the radio in Rosario, which is
the Headquarters of the Section, and
there were other opportunities also to
disseminate Theosophy through the
medium of radio and T. V.

Uruguay now owns its own building;
the General Secretary in his report gives
information about each member of each
of the nine Lodges in that Section. The
work is carried on, he says, very regularly
in all of them.

The Central American Section is spread
over six states, namely Guatemala,
Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa
Rica and Panama. But one cannot go
from one country to another without a
passport. So the Section has an arrange¬
ment by which the Convention is held in
a different country each time by rotation.

and members come to it from the different
States. Thus they come to know each
other and are able to establish a measure
of co-operation among themselves. The
General Secretary says that this system
has given good results. The General
Secretary is also elected by rotation
among these States for a period of two
years.

Mr. A. B. Patel, General Secretary for
East Africa, records satisfactory progress.
The strength of the Section remains un¬
diminished by the changing social patterns
there. There was a new Lodge in Kenya
and two new Lodges in Zambia.

The work in all the different Sections
in Europe proceeds steadily. The im¬
portant event during the year was the
holding of the European Federation
Congress in Paris in the month of August.
The Convention of the French Section
was held at the same time, at which Mr.
Solomon Lancri was elected General
Secretary succeeding Dr. Paul Thorin
who had held that office for a long period
of years.

Mr. Roberto Hack who had been a
member for fifty years and for many
years General Secretary of the Italian
Section passed away during the year.
The new General Secretary, Mr. Edoardo
Bratina. says in his Report that the work
in the Lodges in that Section proceeds
in two main directions: one is the ex¬
position of the classical Theosophical
literature, especially the works of H.P.B.,
and the other, discussions on modern prob¬
lems from the Theosophical stand-point.

Finland is another Section in which
there has been a change of General
Secretary. The new General Secretary.
Miss Sirkka Kivilinna, writes of a fund
which has been established for giving
grants to elderly members to enable them
to attend the annual Summer School at
Krcivila which she says is a meeting
place for the whole Section.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

The General Secretary for Denmark,
Mr. Preben Sorensen, mentions the fact
that the Danish edition of The Secret
Doctrine brought out in four volumes
has been selling exceptionally well.
During the year there has been much
activity and fruitful exchange among
Lodges and members in that Section.

Reports from several of the Sections
mention increased interest in Theosophical
ideas particularly among the young people.
Mr. Curt Berg, the General Secretary for
Sweden, writes that they arc particularly
interested in the subjects of Yoga and
meditation and desire to find a deeper
basis for one’s life apart from ideas of
purely intellectual interest.

Summer Schools were held during the
year in Nottingham, England; in Stcnsund,
Sweden; at “ Olcott ” in U. S. A. follow¬
ing the Annual Convention; at Pichl in
Austria, for the German-speaking
members; in Krcivila. Finland (as already
mentioned); in Costa Rica. Central
America, for the first time; in Cordoba,
Argentina, this in addition to Camps held
for Young Theosophists and for elders.
A Summer School gives an opportunity
for relaxation to those who come from
cities and places of work. Provided
the objectives are right, an inwardly
relaxed condition often helps one to make
a fresh approach, unimpeded by previous
ideas, to the eternal Wisdom in which one
can always find new values, if not also
new meanings.

I made a tour last summer in Europe,
accompanied by Miss Nisewangcr, then
my Secretary, and was Guest Speaker at
the Summer School in Sweden and
Nottingham. Later I presided over the
Congress in Paris at which Mrs. Radha
Burnier, who had also been invited,was
one of the Guest Speakers. Mr. Hodson,
after his seminar in Manila, conducted
a similar one in Denmark for three weeks.
Later he gave talks in the School of

Theosophy at Krotona, Ojai, and was
Guest Speaker at the Convention and
Summer School at “ Olcott ”. Rukmini
Devi also took part in these Olcott sessions
and later in the Congress in Paris. Mr.
John Coats visited South Africa and was
present at their Convention. He also
visited West Africa and took part in all
the Summer Schools in Europe and the
Paris Congress. Miss Ianthc Hoskins
made a tour in East Africa visiting and
conducting classes in no less than 24
places and later a shorter tour in West
Africa. Mr. and Mrs. Lcslic-Smith made
a tour of the Scandinavian Sections
including Finland early last summer.
All these tours have been much
appreciated.

Among those who have passed on
during the year arc a number of well-
known Theosophists and devoted workers:
Miss Clara Codd. widely known and loved
throughout the Society, whose talks and
writings have been an inspiration to
several generations of Theosophists; Miss
Katherine Bccchey, a selfless worker and
latterly Recording Secretary; Mr. C.
Subbarayudu, formerly Superintendent of
the Vasanta Press and connected also
with other activities at Adyar; Sri Sri
Prakasa, son of Dr. Bhagavan Das, a
Thcosophist from his boyhood and in
later years Governor of one Indian State
after another; Mr. Albert Sassi, former
General Secretary for Switzerland; Mr.
Fritz Schlciflcr. former General Secretary
for Austria; Mrs. Esther dc Mezcrville,
former General Secretary for Central
America; Mr. Sam Wylie, devoted and
tireless worker in U. S. A.; Prof. Tolani,
a Thcosophist of long standing and latterly
a worker at the Indian Section Head¬
quarters at Varanasi; Uma Devi,
previously known as Wanda Dynowska
while she was General Secretary in Poland,
and latterly an ardent worker for the
cause of Tibetans in India and a translator

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, 1971

of Thcosophical books into Polish; Sri
Karunakaran Nair, a Theosophist of
long standing and worker in Kerala; Sri
Homi Coachbuilder, a similarly devoted
worker in Bhavnagar, Gujarat—there
are others whom I do not mention here
for want of space. But with all of them
go our affectionate good wishes and
gratitude.

The activities of the Thcosophical
Order of Service figure in the Reports of
the E. African Section, Australia, Scot¬
land, Wales, India, the Philippines, Viet
Nam and several other Sections. Many
Lodges carry on such activities as part of
their regular work and therefore do not
make particular mention of them.

At Adyar, the work goes on steadily,
as one might describe it, unhasting,
unresting. The Thcosophical Publishing
House records a considerable increase in
its sales. The Adyar Library’s Report
gives details of its work, which because
of its specialized character I do not refer
to here. The School of the Wisdom
commenced its session this year on
November 16th with Dr. I. K. Taimni
as Director of Studies. It is to go on till
about February 17th. The Vasanta Press
has had an extremely busy year, working
to its full capacity and has at last been
shifted to the new building in Besant
Gardens, specially designed and con¬
structed for it.

Owing to the unexpected demise of the
Recording Secretary, Miss Katherine
Bcechey. in May, I had to make a fresh
appointment, and Mrs. Peggy dc Vogel
has for the time being taken her place.
Miss Annie Tjioe returned to Adyar after
a year abroad and has resumed her
previous work as Treasurer of the Society,
relieving Mr. K. N. Ramanathan who
had gallantly taken on the burden of
that office during her absence in addition
to his work as Manager of the Thcoso¬
phical Publishing House. Miss Elithe

Nisewanger, who had been my Secretary
ever since I assumed office as President,
retired from that office and went back to
the U. S. A. last May, because of conside¬
rations of health, and Miss Margaret
Flintcr from Singapore is now acting in
that capacity. As Miss Marion Caws had
to leave India, Mrs. Bridget Paget took
charge as Assistant Editor of The Theoso¬
phist and is now carrying on that work.
Mr. K. B. Gosatkar was appointed as
Superintendent of Bhojanasala, replacing
Mrs. Sarojini Kannan. A new Superin¬
tendent had to be appointed to supervise
Lcadbcater Chambers after the departure
of Madame Michele Robine who had to
return to Australia. Pending the arrival
of Miss Carin Citroen, who has very
recently taken charge of Lcadbcater
Chambers, Mrs. Alwyn Miechcl. offered
to fill the gap, for which we are very
thankful. All other Heads of Depart¬
ments and Assistants are the same as
before. The Vice-President and Mrs.
Perkins have been in Sydney, Australia,
during the year. They have been tour¬
ing and lecturing in New Zealand
recently.

Before I close I wish to draw attention
to the fact that the Society’s work is
being carried on largely with the help
of the donations and bequests we receive.
The support of members throughout the
world to the A. B. C. Fund, the Century
Fund, the non-English Publications Loan
Fund and other Funds, which I have
mentioned in previous years, is needed
as much as ever before. To all those who
have helped financially or otherwise,
our thanks are due.

As the Centenary of the Society is
approaching, it is the wish of all the
Sections to celebrate it in a fitting manner.
The international Convention at Adyar
in December 1975 will be a celebration
to which many Sections are likely to
send delegates. In addition to this the

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Unites States Section has planned to
organize a Congress in New York, where
the Society was founded, to take place
from November 14th to 20th, 1975.
That Congress is intended to be somewhat
like the World Congress held in Salzburg,
Austria, in 1966. To ensure that all the
celebrations throughout the world arc
co-ordinated as far as possible, the General
Council has appointed a representative
Committee, with the General Secretary for
U. S. A. as its Chairman. But every
Lodge and member of the Society would
do well to consider what kind of pre¬
paration it or he should undertake to
make the centenary the kind of climax it
can be for the hundred years preceding
it and the beginning of a new era for

the Society, unfolding new possibil¬
ities.

Adyar was selected by the Founders,
among all the places they had visited,
to be the Headquarters of the Society.
We have to do all that we can to make
it the kind of Centre it should be, both
in its outer aspects and in the atmosphere
created by the thoughts and work of all
who reside here. Dr. Annie Bcsant
wanted it to be a “ flaming Centre •*.
If it can be made such during the years
preceding and immediately following the
Centenary, those who have brought about
that result would have made a signal
contribution to the cause for which this
world-wide Society exists, with Adyar
as its heart and centre.

THE TREASURER’S REPORT

INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT:

The general income and expenditure account of the current year shows a deficit
of Rs. 1,848/- against Rs. 3,534/- in the previous year. The Adyar Day Collections
received during the year amounting to Rs. 51,700/- were allocated by the President as
follows:

The Adyar Library

Rs.

10,000

Faithful Service Fund

8,000

Olcott Harijan Free Schools

3,000

President’s Discretionary Fund

1.000

Adyar Animal Welfare Fund

1,000

Welfare Fund

3,000

Adyar Besant Commemorative Fund

25,700

51,700

1. Adyar Library: The deficit under publication account is Rs. 8,491/- in the
year mainly due to fall in the sale of Publications from Rs. 44,700/- (1969-70) to Rs. 23,600/-
in the current year. The department has received a grant of Rs. 48,750/- from Ford
Foundation of India during the year towards air-conditioning of the Manuscripts Room.

2. Bhojansala: The department shows a surplus of Rs. 833/- for the first time
in the last ten years (against a deficit of Rs. 1,793/- last year) owing to stricter control over
expenditure. There is an increase of Rs. 1,985/- under mess income in the current year
without any significant increase in the expenditure.

3. Garden Department: There is a deficit of Rs. 3,878/- (against Rs. 19,469/-
in 1969-70) in this year due to increase in the gross return under coconut sales. The
expenses have not gone up this year and this is also a contributory factor in the reduction
in the deficit. A sum of Rs. 2,139/- has been spent for easuarina development in the
current year,

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

4. laundry Department: The deficit
has increased by Rs. 1,329/- over last
year. As against an increase of R^. 409/-
in laundering charges, the expenditure
has gone up by Rs. 1,739/- mainly under
washing materials and fire wood.

5. Leadbcater Chambers: The deficit
for the current year is Rs. 3,343/- as
against Rs. 38/- in the last year. The
fall in mess income and service charges
are the main factors in the deficit.

6. Maintenance Department: There is
a deficit of Rs. 27,917/- (against
Rs. 33,300/-) in the current year. The
income of the current year has gone down
by Rs. 13,163/- over last year and the
expenditure has also come down by
Rs. 18,546/-.

7. The Thcosophical Publishing House:

The Publishing House has shown a
surplus of Rs. 13,868/- over last year
mainly due to increase in the sale of
T. P. H. Publications which was higher
by Rs. 43,000/- gross owing to larger
orders for printing of sheets from the
United States. The sale of incense sticks
increased by Rs. 6,300/- whereas the sale
of Adyar Library Publications fell by
Rs. 18,000/-. The H. P. Blavatsky
Publications Reserve has been created
this year w ith an allocation of Rs. 35,000/-.

8. Vasanta Press: There is a surplus
of Rs. 1,060/- in the net income of the

Adyar

5th December 1971

current year over last year. An alloca¬
tion of Rs. 50,000/- has been made to
the Machinery Replacement Fund to
meet the cost of Mono Machine to be
purchased in the near future.

1. A. B.C. Fund: A sum of Rs. 25,700/-
has been transferred from the Adyar
Day Collections and Rs. 1,103/- has been
received as donations during the year.
The present balance is Rs. 2,024,699/-.

2. Century Fund: Donations received
during the year amounted to Rs. 12,634/-.

The larger contributions are:-

Rs.

i. T. S. Members of the

Swedish Section 2,133.80

ii. T. S. in Colombia 1,533.44

iii. Various Swiss Members 1,103.33

iv. Miss Mary Anderson,

Switzerland 1,260.00

v. T. S. in New Zealand 1,965.00

3. Faithful Service Fund: A sum of
Rs. 8,000/- has been transferred from
Adyar Day Collections, and the other
donations received during the year totalled
Rs. 1,869/-.

4. General Fund: There is an increase
of Rs. 130,486/- in the current year by
receipt of legacies of Rs. 22,918/- and
transfer of Donations, Fees and Dues
etc. for Rs. 107,568/-.

(Miss) Tjioe Siang Nio,

Hony. Treasurer.

REPORTS OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIES
OF NATIONAL SOCIETIES, FEDERATION
SECRETARIES, PRESIDENTIAL
AGENTS, ETC.

These reports in some instances have been translated
into English, edited or condensed in the office of the
Recording Secretary.

JAI1*

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

“ The re arc some,” wrote Clara M. Codd
in her memoirs, So Rich a Ufe % “ who
discover that when they join The Theoso-
phical Society they can never leave it
again.” For those who perceive its
essential aim, she suggested, membership
is for “ life and eternity.” What is the
nature of an organization that can call
forth this kind of commitment? What
vision is necessary to inspire an inner
steadfastness of heart and mind untouched
by the events of time ? Such questions seem
particularly appropriate as we attempt a
review of the numerous eventful moments
that have occurred in the first year-long
stride we have taken into the decade of
the Seventies. Both custom and law
prescribe an annual accounting of the
Society’s affairs; yet even the most minute
detailing of the Society’s fortunes could
not give us insight into its trans-temporal
purposes or reveal the measure of its signi¬
ficance in the drama of world civilization.

For those for whom, like our beloved
Clara, whose passing was one of the events
to be recorded during the past year, mem¬
bership in The Theosophical Society has
opened upon a way of life a door never
to be closed again, it is not so much a
tabulation of statistics that marks the
progress of our Movement as it is an in¬
terior personal vigilance of soul matched
by an external tireless action in the service
of others. In a world in which the
shadows cast by man’s inhumanity to
man seem to lengthen with each passing
year, on a planet on which the burden
of humanity's unresolved problems seems
only to grow heavier, the Theosophist
with his vision of brotherhood may seem

an anachronism, his dream a wild fantasy
never here to be realized. Yet this is the
world in which one man of our human¬
ity achieved supreme enlightenment; this
is the planet whose soil felt the impress
of the feet of the Christ. And what some
have attained others may aspire to reach;
where some have walked others may
attempt to follow.

It is popular today to compare our
current situation with that which charac¬
terized the final days of the great Hellenic
culture and so to apply to the present
human condition the phrase used in histor¬
ical retrospect for the cause of the decline
of Greek civilization, ” a failure of nerve.”
He who joins The Theosophical Society
” for life and eternity ” can suffer no such
failure; he cannot afford the luxury of
despair or the case of indifference. He
knows the stakes arc high, the risks arc
great, if the cause of human brotherhood
be truly served, but he knows also there
is no other way at all to go. His is the
conviction of which H.S. Olcott, President-
Founder of this Society, spoke in his
inaugural address: ”... in my soul I feel
that behind us, behind our little band ...
there gathers a Mighty Power that nothing
can withstand—the power of TRUTH!”
And so he knows, past all doubting, that
this Society was indeed as H.P. Blavatsky
wrote, ” generated through and founded by
the ‘ High Masters’ ’’and that, so found¬
ed, it “ must and will live." A channel
for an Ageless Wisdom, this Society can be
the carrier of mankind’s noblest dreams,
providing the necessary thrust for human¬
ity’s lift-off into the orbits of peace and
freedom.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

As wc here in the United States record
another year of rapid growth in the ranks
of our Society, review ing splendid accom¬
plishments born of our united endeavors,
we must not forget that this Section is but
one branch of a world-encircling banyan
tree which is the total Society on the
physical plane. Our achievements carry
obligations; our good fortune brings
responsibility, for our growth must be
matched by our concern that others may
share in the benefits of a philosophy so
meaningful to us. The next time you
read a Quest Book, visualize a small group
of earnest students in Kyoto, Japan,
struggling to understand The Secret
Doctrine , coping with the English as
much as with the philosophy, because
the work is not available in Japanese.
The next time you hear a lecture, listen
with the cars of an Indonesian, hungry
for the ideas yet unable to understand
the language clothing the thoughts. Until
Theosophy is available in every language
man speaks, these life-giving, soul-
enriching ideas cannot permeate the
consciousness and motivate the actions
of all the peoples of the world, and until
that day, our task is far from done.

International Conferences .—Aware of
our international obligations, therefore, as
one section of a world Society, we were
able to give visible expression to that
responsibility during the past year through
representation at a number of inter¬
national gatherings. Hands were joined
across borders and national bounda¬
ries in no less than six conferences or
conventions at which this Section was
represented by officers and leading
members in our work. Foremost of
these, of course, was the 95th Convention
of The Theosophical Society at the world
headquarters at Adyar, in December.
For the second time since I assumed office
as your National President, it was my
privilege to be present at an Adyar

convention; as on the previous occasion,
I represented our Section at the opening
of the Convention and delivered one of
the Convention lectures, in addition to
attending the meetings of the General
Council of the Society. On this trip,
I was accompanied by the Editor of The
American Theosophist, Mrs. Virginia Han¬
son, who also spoke at the Convention,
on one of the symposia, and who shared
the platform with me on other occasions
during our sojourn at Adyar. En route
to our world center, wc were able to
spend several days in Karachi, where a
convention of the Pakistan Section was
arranged to coincide with our visit and
at which I gave a number of talks.
Meeting and talking with members in
that troubled and divided country, I
became acutely aware of the many
problems of the few who so tirelessly
carry on the work of the Society in
Pakistan, magnificently led by that in¬
defatigable worker, Mrs. Gool Minwalla,
who serves as Presidential Agent for the
Section. Not only is there the problem
of issuing theosophical literature in the
major national languages of Urdu and
Bengali, there is the need for a presenta¬
tion especially geared to Muslim audiences,
with attention given to the relation
between theosophical ideas and the great
truths of Islam.

In February, the Fourth Inter-American
Congress was held in Bogota and Mclgar,
Colombia. The National Vice-President,
Mr. Felix Layton, represented this Section
officially at that Congress and at the
several business meetings preceding it,
when further steps were taken in the
organization of the In ter-American Theo¬
sophical Federation of which wc arc a
member. Mr. Luis Spairani, General
Secretary of the Society in Argentina,
was elected the Federation’s first president;
he reports that the Executive Committee
of the Inter-American Federation has

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

already begun work to implement two
major projects: the issuance of an Inter-
American journal, and the translation and
publication of an increasing number of
theosophical books in Spanish. Mr.
Layton and his wife. Eunice, who accom¬
panied him to the Congress, visited
several other countries in South America,
including Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil,
speaking to members and public. En
route to the Congress, Mr. and Mrs.
Layton were able to accept speaking
engagements in Puerto Rico. We were
fortunate that two other well-known staff
workers at Headquarters, Mr. and Mrs.
Fritz Locnholdt, found it possible in
the course of a vacation trip to attend
and participate in the Inter-American
Congress: since they had been active in
the work in the Colombian Section
during the several years of their residency
in that country, the Congress afforded
the opportunity to renew links with
members in Bogota and Cali. Traveling
homeward to Oleott, they stopped briefly
in Mexico City to meet with members.
One of the happy results of their travels
was the acquisition of a number of theo¬
sophical books in Spanish to add to the
Spanish-language section of the Oleott
Library.

A four-months’ leave, which included
a vacation period, enabled Miss Helen
Zahara to accept the invitation of the
Australian Section to tour the branches
of that vast country and to be the guest
speaker at the Section’s Convention near
Perth. While her return to Australia
was in the nature of a home coming, since
Miss Zahara had been that Section’s
General Secretary for eight years prior
to her joining our Headquarters’ staff in
1965, she is now not only a member of
our Section, but so intimate a part of the
major developments taking place in the
theosophical work in this country that
her travels this spring linked us directly

with members and activities in Australia
and several other countries. Two other
well-known workers from this Section,
Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Heintz of Ojai, were
also present at the Australian Conven¬
tion; they and Miss Zahara, traveling
together on holiday, contacted members
in Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Two further events, this past year,
served to remind us that the Society
bridges national boundaries. The Labor
Day weekend in September witnessed
the second North American Theosophical
Students Conference, co-sponsored by
the American and Canadian Sections.
Held in Detroit, this conference which it
was our privilege to host this year focused
on the theme of “ H. P. Blavatsky and
Today’s Search for Meaning,’’ with Mr.
Boris dc Zirkoff, editor of the Collected
Writings of H. P. B., as guest speaker.
In March, the Southern California Fede¬
ration again stretched hands across the
southern border for a bi-lingual meeting
in Tijuana. Baja California, joining with
members of the Mexican Section in a
consideration of the theme, Sin
Fronteras” (“Without Frontiers”).
Representing the National Headquarters
on that occasion was the Director for
the South-west District, Mrs. Hyta Tilson.

1970 Convention-Summer School, Work¬
shops and Seminars .—National and
regional gatherings of members in this
Section have always played a significant
part in the vitality of our work. The
year under review opened, as is customary,
with the Annual Convention—our
Eighty-Fourth—and Summer School; held
on the beautiful grounds of our own
national center. Oleott. these sessions
were devoted to an exploration of the
challenging theme. “ Theosophy Enters
the 1970s.” Following a general con¬
sideration of the work of the Society and
the presentation of Theosophy particularly
appropriate to these troublous times,

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

attention was given to a study in depth
of the Three Objects. So exciting proved
to be the discussions on each of the
Objects, revealing unsuspected and often
seldom-examined aspects of the Society's
aims, that the major presentations on
the Objects were later published and
subsequently incorporated as part of
a study course issued by the Department
of Education.

The increasing importance of the theo-
sophical summer camps, as centers for
study and training in a relaxed, friendly
and natural setting, signifies the growing
recognition of the benefits to be gained
from mutual investigation of the thco-
sophical philosophy in a never-ceasing
effort to improve our own presentations
of the Ageless Wisdom. Once again,
last August, special workshop/seminar
sessions were arranged by the Department
of Education, working closely with the
various camp managements. With the
aid of a scholarship program founded by
a Kern Foundation grant, a number of
members were assisted to attend these
sessions. A new venture at Far Horizons
in the High Sierras of an extended School
of Theosophy curriculum included a
week’s program on “The Oneness of
All Religions,” with Mrs. Scetha Nccla-
kantan as one of the principal resource
speakers, followed by a week’s study on
“The Law of Action/Reaction.” with
Miss Helen Zahara as the key contributor.
Mr. and Mrs. Felix Layton also assisted
at the Far Horizons’ sessions; later they
participated in a seminar program at
Camp Indralaya, on Orcas Island, where
they were joined by Mr. and Mrs. Peter
J. McNicce for that camp’s study of
“ Man the Measure of All Things.” I
was able to take part in the seminar week
at Pumpkin Hollow Camp, where the
study was also devoted to “ Man the
Measure of All Things.” and where Mrs.
Ncclakantan joined me to assist with the

presentations. During the year, a new
summer camp was inaugurated, with the
formal establishment of the Ozark Theo-
sophical Camp and Educational Centre,
located near Sulphur Springs, Arkansas,
on property donated by Mrs. Alma Klose,
a member of the Kansas City Brunch.
We look forward to including that camp
in the annual programs jointly sponsored
through the Department of Education.

Members in other areas of the country
arc actively considering the development
of camp sites. In furtherance of this
objective, the Mid-South Federation
hosted a Tri-Federation meeting last
October at the Black Rock Mountain
State Park in northwest Georgia. Miss
Helen Zahara was the featured speaker
at a seminar on “ The Challenges of the
Seventies,” with members from the Gulf
Coast and Florida Federations joining
their colleagues in the Mid-South area
for a weekend of study and discussion.

The idea of study weekends and week-
long seminars seems to have become
increasingly popular. While individual
study is both necessary and important,
group study can stimulate and challenge,
permitting a give and take of ideas, a
sparking of minds in an exchange of
views, often leading to creative insights in a
kind of flaming forth of new perceptions,
sometimes missed in isolated study. Dur¬
ing the past year. I was able to lead a
weekend study session on The Secret
Doctrine, held in New York City under
the auspices of the North-cast Federation,
and to experiment with a week-long
seminar on The Secret Doctrine, held at
Olcott in place of our customary spring
workshop session. The latter, attracting
more than a dozen members from various
parts of the country, and attended also
by a number of staff members, proved to
be a most successful experiment, with
many expressing the hope that similar
programs could be arranged in the future

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

to utilize the rich resources available at
our national center. Unfortunately,
because of emergency demands at Olcott,
I had to cancel a two week seminar
planned for this spring as part of the
program of the Krotona School of Theo¬
sophy, but it is expected that this will be
re-programmed for the new fiscal year.

In addition to these several national
and regional gatherings, in which officials
or representatives from Headquarters have
participated, there have been, of course,
the usual federation and branch activities
that bring members together from time
to time in pursuit of our common purpose.
Reports of these activities, insofar as they
are communicated to us. appear regularly
in The American Theosophist. The value
of such activities, however, cannot be
over-estimated, for I believe it is the
work at the local level—the coming
together of members in smaller or larger
groups, individuals unafraid of a diversity
of views, willing to look without prejudice
or temper at manifold interpretations of
lofty concepts no one of us can grasp in
their awe-inspiring wholeness—it is this
work that provides the continuing thread
of the Society’s existence in the world
about us. Whatever is done through
Headquarters, whatever transpires at our
national center, whatever programs and
policies may be formulated by the National
Board of Directors, ultimately the strength
of our Movement in its physical incar¬
nation is tested in the crucibles of in¬
dividual and group efTort.

. Lecture Tours .—For this reason because
of the significance of the work at the local
level, I am always happy when circumstan¬
ces permit me to travel among the bran¬
ches, meeting and talking with members,
feeling the pulse of the Society in groups
large and small, sensing the needs, exchang¬
ing ideas, rethinking directions. In addi¬
tion to the several gatherings, both in this
country and abroad, which I have already
3

mentioned, I was able, during the past
year, to visit a number of branches in the
middle Atlantic states last fall, including
Trenton, Philadelphia, Washington, Rich¬
mond, and Baltimore; during the spring, 1
visited the branches in Minneapolis, St.
Paul, and Milwaukee, in addition to
participating in the Texas Federation
Convention at Austin.

In conjunction with her travels to the
Tri-Federation meeting in Georgia last
fall. Miss Zahara was able to visit briefly
the study centers in Norfolk and Hampton-
Newport News and to give a public
lecture to an interested group of people
in South Orange, New Jersey, before
joining me in New York for the study
weekend already referred to.

Some of the field workers, in the course
of regional expansion or follow-up pro¬
grams, have been able to visit areas
adjacent to or near those in which
concentrated series were being held.
Mr. and Mrs. Layton were able, at the
conclusion of their fall program in the
north-west, to attend the West Coast
Conference in San Francisco. Mr. and
Mrs. McNiecc interrupted their preli¬
minary work for the Regional Expansion
program in Florida this spring to visit
all the newer study centers in the Mid-
South area, including the groups in
Savannah, Columbia. Augusta and
Charleston. Following the Florida series,
Mr. and Mrs. McNiece returned to the
Mid-South area for the federation meeting
in Charlotte, after which they visited
the groups in Greensboro and Mt. Gilead.
Mrs. Mattie Louise Gephardt interrupted
her spring scries to fly to Ohio, where she
participated in the federation conference
in Akron.

While the nationally sponsored lecture
visits would seem to have been minimal
in comparison with the size of the country
and the number of branches, one must
take account of the efforts of local and

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

regional speakers, visiting groups other
than their own. Often groups arrange
joint meetings, as in the Los Angeles
area where a number of branches meet
together once a month; or groups arrange
exchange visits, as in the Twin Cities area
where Minneapolis and St. Paul branches
play host to each other for special meet¬
ings. Even without the stimulus that may
be provided by a national speaker, groups
participating in such area exchange pro¬
grams experience a dynamic revitalization
through the interchange of program
ideas in mutual discussion.

Regional Expansion and Regional
Expansion follow-up Programs. The
Regional Expansion Program remains
the major national effort to publicize
Theosophy through direct lecture and
class work in a selected number of cities.
Under the competent leadership of the
National Vice-President and his wife,
Mr. and Mrs. Felix Layton, and with
the aid of substantial grants from the
Kern Foundation to support extensive
advertising and publicity in all the news
media, the Regional Expansion scries
has continued to draw unusually large
audiences, bringing increasing numbers
of inquirers into direct personal contact
with Theosophy. Assisted again this
year by Mr. and Mrs. McNicce, the
Laytons carried on the scries last fall in
the three northwest cities of Seattle,
Portland and Spokane, with an initial
audience of well over 1,000 in Seattle,
benefiting not only the well-functioning
branch in that city but also giving added
impetus to the Quest Bookstore operated
by that branch. During the spring
months, following their South American
tour, Mr. and Mrs. Layton focused on
the Florida cities of Miami, Orlando and
Tampa. In addition to giving assistance
to the expansion program in those three
cities, Mr. and Mrs. McNicce conducted
a series of classes in Jacksonville, visited

the St. Petersburg Branch, and participated
in the Florida Federation convention at
Ft. Myers. At the close of the year.
Mr. and Mrs. Layton reported that book
sales had exceeded $5,000; more than
150.000 publicity leaflets had been dis¬
tributed, and over 150 new members
added to the Society's rolls. The new
members usually form their own study
group within the branch structure of
each city visited.

Mrs. Mattie Louise Gephardt focused
her efforts this year on the Illinois-
Wisconsin area, conducting programs last
fall in the Illinois cities of Springfield,
Decatur. Peoria and Joliet. In Spring-
field and Peoria new Official Study Centers
were established as a result of Mrs.
Gephardt’s efforts. Very much in the
spirit of the seasoned trooper whose motto
is that despite any personal adversity
“ the show must go on,” Mrs. Gephardt
began her spring program right on
schedule, although the disastrous fire in the
T. P. H. Building, to which I shall refer
later in this report, occurred less than a
month before she was scheduled to leave
Olcott on tour; since the fire broke out
in the room occupied by Mr. and Mrs.
Gephardt, their personal possessions,
clothing, library, etc., were completely
destroyed, but by some miraculous good
fortune. Mrs. Gephardt's lecture notes
were found untouched in an adjacent room.
One can purchase new clothing, but the
reconstruction of lecture notes would have
been a long and difficult task! So, this
spring. Mrs. Gephardt continued her work
in this central area, with classes in Daven¬
port. Iowa; Rockford. Illinois; and Madi¬
son, Wisconsin. The small branch in
Rockford gained new strength, while
study centers in Davenport and Madi¬
son were organized. In the latter city,
seat of the University of Wisconsin,
a group of young members, under the
leadership of Charles Chesrow, had

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

initiated a study program on campus,
displaying Quest books and other literature
in the student union building; through
their efforts, Mrs. Gephardt was presented
in a lecture on the university campus,
attracting a large number of students,
many of whom later attended her formal
scries of classes. Mrs. Gephardt reports
that during the year, approximately 64
members joined following her series of
classes, and book sales at these series
totaled more than $1500.

Mrs. Jean Tappcndorf has had a most
active year covering many of the Western
states. She reports carrying on lectures,
classes, members' meetings and work¬
shops in 13 cities in the states of Wyoming,
Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Cali¬
fornia. One of our most talented and
creative workers, particularly skilled in
the conduct of member-workshops in
which new techniques for group work
are demonstrated and practiced. Mrs.
Tappcndorf began her fall program with
a scries in Cheyenne and Casper,
developing a small class to continue
studies together in the first city, and greatly
stimulating the active branch in the
latter city. Moving on to Salt Lake City,
Mrs. Tappcndorf was able to bring new
life and vitality to the center there, with
a strong new group of members being
added. Visits to the Tucson and Phoenix
groups were most encouraging to the
membership in those cities. After the
first of the year, Mrs. Tappcndorf con¬
centrated her efforts on the California
cities of Stockton, Berkeley, Santa Rosa.
Bakersfield, and San Bernardino, with
special talks in Oakland and San Francisco.
New study groups were organized in
those cities in which the Society had not
previously been active, and the existing
branch in Berkeley was aided. Among
the unique opportunities which arose
during the course of the year, Mrs.
Tappcndorf reports two of particular

interest: in Tucson, she was invited to
give a series of workshops to a class in
creativity conducted by Dr. Joseph Gullo
at the University of Arizona, and during
the period she was in the northern
California area, she was invited to speak
on comparative religion to a philosophy
class at Mt. Diablo University.

The continued importance of adequate
follow-up visits to those groups organized
under the expansion programs, as well
as of return visits to all the branches
from time to time, is recognized by the
National Board of Directors, who feel
concern that increased attention must
be given to this type of field activity.
We have been extremely fortunate, again
this past year, that this concern is shared
by the Trustees of the Kern Foundation
whose approval of our request for grants
to cover the costs of the major follow¬
up programs has enabled us to carry on
this effort. Without such substantial sub¬
sidies, which last year included grants
to cover the entire cost of both Regional
Expansion and Regional Expansion
Follow-Up programs, it is doubtful that
the Society alone could engage in as
extensive a field program as has just
been reported.

As mentioned earlier, however, the
national efforts have been greatly aug¬
mented by the many local and regional
efforts. Prominent among these must
be mentioned the work carried on by
Mr. Robert Peters, President of the Ohio
Federation, who has continued this past
year to conduct class scries in several Ohio
cities. Recognizing the importance and
value of his efforts, and with assistance
from the grant from the Kern Foundation
designated to aid with the cost of adver¬
tising nationally sponsored lectures, the
National Board of Directors allocated
funds to Mr. Peters to assist in publicizing
his scries in the various cities. While
his endeavors were necessarily on a more

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

modest scale than most of our national
programs, it should be noted that two
new Official Study Centers, in Marion
and Cuyahoga Falls, were established as
a direct result of Mr. Peters’ work.

Membership .—It is inevitable that the
exposure of an increased number of
people to the theosophical philosophy,
through our major lecture and expan¬
sion programs, as well as through the
wide distribution of our literature and
by other means which will be repor¬
ted subsequently in this review, should
bring about an ever-growing interest
in the Society itself. For the fifth
year in succession, I can report to you
an increased membership. With 1034
new members joining the Society during
the past year, our membership on
May 31 stood at 5896, a net gain of
460 over the previous year; it has been
more than four decades since we could
record such growth in this Section, both
in terms of new members admitted and
in terms of total membership. During
the year, however, resignations totalled
99, an additional 473 permitted their
membership to lapse into inactivity, and
94 names were removed from the rolls
by death. Among the latter were four
who had served the work at our national
center, Olcott. Mr. Fred Morgan, well
known to readers of theosophical journals
throughout the world and who had given
some years of service at Headquarters
passed away suddenly last July at his
home in Ojai, California. In early
August, after little more than three
months on the staff, Mr. Tony Balch died
suddenly at Olcott. Mr. Lee Roed, who
had given incomparable service in the
grounds and maintenance departments at
Olcott for a period of ten years, died in
November at a nursing home in northern
California. Particular mention must be
made of the death at Olcott in April of
one of the most-loved theosophical

workers in this country, Samuel H. Wylie.
A member for nearly 48 years, Mr. Wylie
had served on the National Board of
Directors for 14 years, had lectured and
conducted Regional Expansion programs
throughout the Section, and for the past
10 years had been head of the Building
and Grounds Department at the National
Headquarters. Surely he was one of
those to whom Clara Codd’s comment on
membership 44 for life and eternity ” must
apply, for Sam communicated by his very
presence his enthusiasm for and his
abiding commitment to the Society and
its ideals, leaving us all so much richer
for having known him. a little poorer
now for the absence of his physical
presence.

In considering the present membership
figures, it may be of interest to note that
approximately 39% arc membcrs-at-largc,
unconnected with any branch or study
center. This requires us, I believe, to
give attention to the constant maintenance
of channels of direct communication
between the national center and the
individual member; as I shall report
later in this survey of the year’s work,
this is indeed a matter to which much
thought is given in nearly every depart¬
ment of our activities. During the year
just passed, the National Board of
Directors accepted the dissolution of five
branches and two study centers; while no
new branches were chartered during the
year, certificates were granted to 12 new
Official Study Centres. Therefore, on
May 31, our records indicate there were
109 Branches (or Lodges) and 43 Official
Study Centers, giving us a total of 152
functioning groups throughout the
Section.

The pace of membership growth, with
the attendant need for care in the keeping
of records, increased correspondence on
matters relating to membership, and the
many other tasks involved in this area

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

of administrative concern, has placed
additional burdens upon our smoothly
and efficiently functioning Membership
Department. Our special appreciation is
due to Mrs. Margery Parks, who heads
that department, and to her capable
assistant, Mrs. Beatrice BorofT. for the
excellent manner in which they have met
this accelerated expansion in the member¬
ship; we may also contemplate that if
such growth continues, it will soon be
necessary to place an additional worker
in that department in order to cope with
the numerous details that must have
attention.

M ember-Society Relationships .—It is
appropriate to comment at this point
on a resolution adopted at the 1970
Convention. The resolution states: “ In
order to assist the local branches in making
the best possible use of the results of
national expansion programs and to
enable the local branches to hold the in¬
terest and enthusiasm of all members,
the Convention recommends that the
National President initiate a study of
membcr-Society relationships at the local
level.” Accordingly, a scries of questions
was presented in three successive
CONTACT letters this spring, with the
result that a little more than one-third
of all the organized groups responded
thoughtfully and helpfully. Many groups
reported that the initial questions stimu¬
lated the members to investigate the
complete range of services to branches
available through the National Head¬
quarters, indicative of the fact, perhaps,
that there may be occasionally a com¬
munications gap within the local branch
as information from Headquarters sent
to presidents or secretaries may not be
shared with the total membership. It
appeared that two major needs are felt
by the branches: the need for continued
frequent communication between Head¬
quarters and the branches, and the need

1 \

for more frequent visits by national
speakers to the local groups. Both of
these proposals will certainly receive
the careful study of the National Board
of Directors.

The implications of a study of membcr-
Society relationships, however, extend
beyond this initial survey with the branches
and study centers. Since, as l have just
mentioned, a considerable proportion of
our membership consists of members-at-
large, unattached to local groups, I
would propose that our study continue,
not in terms of a one-time questionnaire,
but by some other appropriate means that
will encourage two-way communication
between the membership and our national
center. It is my own conviction, and I
know a conviction shared by many, that
the Society is not like a magazine to which
one subscribes for a year on a trial basis;
the Thcosophical Movement is unique in
the world, with roots that extend deep
into the universal consciousness of human¬
ity, into the rich soil of an all-nourishing
wisdom. To be part of this Movement
is to be attached for life to a living, vital
organization whose influence upon the
thought of the world can be—and must
be—of such significance as to transform
the world. The Society is international
in scope, as well as local and national;
a continuing study of mcmbcr-Socicty re¬
lationships must encompass not only our
immediate area problems, but must be
broadened to include an awareness of
needs, obligations, and responsibilities
in the total Movement.

Department of Information .—Turning
now more directly to a survey of the
service departments at Headquarters,
we may note first the growth of activity
in the Department of Information,
that department which reflects directly
the increased interest among the general
public in the literature and philosophy
of Theosophy. A change in personnel

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

occurred in this department last July, when
at the conclusion of the Summer Sessions,
Mrs. Estelle Case became Mrs. Jay Finley
Downs in a wedding held in the Meditation
Room at Olcott. Fortunately, when Mrs.
Downs left Headquarters to accompany
her husband to their home in Tacoma,
Miss Frieda Yordy, who had spent some
months on the stafT previously and had
rejoined us in June, was available to
assume the duties of the Department of
Information.

Through the department, form letters
about Theosophy and the services of the
Society arc sent to all general inquirers,
as well as to all book purchasers; during
the past year, a total of 5,884 such letters
were mailed out, an increase of nearly
2,000 over the previous year. Quite
naturally, a great deal of correspondence
is generated as a result of this initial
letter contact, many inquiring about
membership; Miss Yordy reports that
as a consequence 86 members joined the
Society through the Department of Infor¬
mation. As some of the letters from
non-members contain questions on
abstruse philosophical topics, Mrs.
Virginia Hanson in the Department of
Education has often been called on to
handle that aspect of the correspondence,
and she reports that 34 individuals have
joined the Society as a result of those
contacts. A major service of the Depart¬
ment of Information consists in sending
the publicity leaflets to individual
inquirers requesting them, as well as
keeping the publicity table in the reception
hall at Olcott supplied with these pamph¬
lets for the benefit of non-member visitors
to Headquarters. More than 41,000 leaf¬
lets were distributed in this manner
during the past year. In addition, of
course, the Department of Information
maintains a mailing list for circularizing
those interested with announcements of
the various public activities at Olcott,

and with the steady increase in attendance
at these activities, the mailing list has
continued to grow proportionately.

The Olcott Library arul • Research
Center .—It is only natural that the in¬
creased interest in Theosophy, as reported
by the Department of Information, to¬
gether with the larger number of visitors
coming into the national Headquarters to
inquire about Theosophy and the Society,
should result in greater usage of our
library service. With the establishment of
an Oriental Section, in which students and
scholars can engage in solid research in
the fields of Eastern philosophies, religions
and cultures, and with the general expan¬
sion of the Western Section, it seemed
only appropriate that the national library
should now be officially designated the
Olcott Library and Research Center.
Two reasons conjoin to make this name
of especial significance: first, of course,
because the library is at our national
center, known as Olcott; and second,
because it directly memorializes the
President-Founder, Col. H. S. Olcott,
whose establishment of the Adyar Library
and Research Center brought into exist¬
ence an institution devoted to “ the revival
of Oriental literature” and the bridging
of eastern and western thought through
a collection of works on the topics
specifically referred to in the Society’s
Second Object. It can be stated without
reservation that our library in this Section
has developed into an outstanding resource
and research center for specific studies in
comparative religions, philosophies and
cultures—both eastern and western as
well as ancient and modern—in addition
to its pre-eminence as a source of theo-
sophical literature.

Mrs. Scctha Neelakantan, librarian at
the Adyar Library and Research Center,
completed two years of service at Olcott
in November; during that time, with the
aid of a major grant from the Kern

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Foundation, she established and profes¬
sionally catalogued our extensive Oriental
Section. Complete sets of reading lists on
the various subjects of Eastern religions,
philosophies, and cultures have been
prepared; these indicate how excellently
the library is equipped for scholarly and
professional studies and research in these
fields. We arc greatly indebted to Mrs.
Ncclakantan for her competent work in
the library during the period she could
be with us; fortunately, she is still able
to serve in an advisory capacity, recom¬
mending new acquisitions in the Oriental
Section and providing the essential
catalogue cards.

Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Locnholdt, who
continue as the outstanding team in charge
of the library, report that during the past
fiscal year a total of 6.204 books were
circulated, for an average of over 500
books a month; more than 53% of these
were borrowed by individuals visiting
our library, whereas slightly more than
46% were sent by mail. Membership
in the library increased by 25% during
the past year, so that the library's active
membership list now totals 1.063. How¬
ever, let me call special attention to the
fact that while 60% of the active members
of the library arc members of the Society,
only about 10% of the Society's member¬
ship have taken advantage of this unique
source of study materials; the avail¬
ability of this service to every member,
as part of his membership, cannot be
given sufficient emphasis.

The continued acquisition of books by
gift and purchase constantly increases
our superb collection; last year, 1,797
books were accessioned for placement on
the library shelves. Among these were
a substantial number of thcosophical
works in Spanish, so that now an excellent
Spanish Section is available for readers
in that language. One needs to visit the
library on a regular work day to appreciate

its numerous activities, including such
diverse services as aiding students in the
selection of titles, repairing and rebinding
worn books, listing, classifying and cata¬
loguing new titles—all of which are
essential to an efficiently functioning
library. We were most fortunate that
just prior to Mrs. Ncclakantan’s departure
from Oleott. we could add Miss Victoria
Mucic to our library staff. In addition,
the services of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne
White, former librarians at Oleott, were
utilized for approximately three months
during the year, and the part-time
assistance of Mrs. Marian Bateman, also
a former librarian, for about four months
has been invaluable in the work of acces¬
sioning new titles.

A particularly valuable service rendered
by our librarians is the preparation and
dispatch of basic thcosophical libraries,
each containing between 50 and 75 titles,
to newly organized study centers. During
the past year, 12 Official Study Centres
authorized by the National Board of
Directors were the recipients of this
specialized service.

Department of EJurat ion .—In spite of
the four month absence of its chair¬
man. Miss Helen Zahara, the Depart¬
ment of Education reports another
extremely active year, providing services
and materials for branches, study centers,
and mcmbers-at-largc, as well as contri¬
buting to the activities of other depart¬
ments at Headquarters. The staff of
this department are all deeply involved in
the programs which receive funding from
the Kern Foundation, and while the report
of those programs appears later in this
survey, it must be recognized that there
is a considerable overlapping of the
educational developments with the Kern
Foundation supported activities. A
major personnel change in the department
occurred in August, when Mrs. Diane
Burckcs joined the staff to assume duties

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

as secretary to Miss Zahara. She has
assisted with the preparation of a number
of the department’s projects and fortu¬
nately was able to assume some editorial
duties connected with The American
Theosophist, which enabled Mrs. Hanson
to be absent for some weeks on the trip
to Adyar in December.

Miss Marion Peterson, whose efficient
service as secretary of the Department of
Education is so outstanding, reports that
during the past year some 621 program
units, consisting of tapes, audio-visual
programs, art programs, sound films, and
study courses, were sent out on loan to
the branches and study centers, an increase
of 179 over the previous year. In addition,
many mcmbers-at-large have taken
advantage of the availability of the tape
library to borrow selected titles for
individual listening. Two new study
courses, with discussion guides and tapes,
were added to the listings of materials
available to groups: (I) The Fundamentals
of Theosophy compiled by lanthc Hoskins
and originally produced by The Theoso-
phical Society in England and (2) a course
on The Three Objects of The Theosophical
Society, based on the talks given at the
1970 Summer School. Our film library
was enriched by the addition of 10 prints
of the award-winning Quest Books film,
“ How Many Lifetimes?”. This film was
borrowed 63 times by the branches, nearly
all reporting an enthusiastic reception of
its showing. In each ease, a copy of the
printed discussion guide was supplied
with the film for the use of the sponsoring
group.

During the year, Mr. E. Norman
Pearson arranged for the transfer to
the Department of Education of all the
tape-visual programs produced by himself
and his wife, Elsie, thus increasing the
number of titles in the Pearson tape-
visual library, to a total of 26. These
were borrowed 61 times during the year.

New tapes were also added to the general
tape library, with recordings of recent
lectures by James S. Perkins, John B. S.
Coats, Joy Mills. Mattie Louise Gephardt,
and Richard W. Brooks.

The Department of Education has now
released a second children’s kit, this one
designed especially for use with grade
school children. The material included
in the kit emphasizes brotherhood, kind¬
ness to animals, ecology and some of
the major theosophical concepts through
recommending a variety of activities and
experiences in which the young child can
engage. The kit includes supplementary
material drawn from a number of well-
known educational sources. Mrs. Edith
Schlosscr was particularly responsible for
the preparation of the children’s kit.
She has also assisted with the editing of
manuscripts, the preparation of new
reading lists for the Oleott Library and
Research Center, and the initiation of a
new study course to be issued during the
coming year. Mrs. Schlosscr, certainly
one of the most versatile members of our
Headquarters Staff, carries on a variety
of duties, including the preparation of
the Oleott Sunday lecture publicity.

The department continues to offer
two correspondence courses, with Mr.
George E. Linton of Portland and Mrs.
Alicia Ripple of Ojai serving as advisors
for those undertaking this type of home
study program. A new manual, directed
to the work of the study centers, was
completed and issued during the year. In
conjunction with the National Committee
on Universal Brotherhood, the Depart¬
ment of Education again issued a scries of
Brotherhood Bulletins, for the prepara¬
tion of which we are especially indebted
to Mr. Clarence Pedersen. Of particular
appeal seemed to be a " non-contest ”
announced in February, when members
were invited to submit essays on the
subject of improving human relations;

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

more than 60 individual papers were
received, plus one entry submitted by
an entire branch working together on the
project.

In addition to her duties as editor of
The American Thcosophist. Mrs. Hanson
continues to give part of her time to the
Department of Education, being in charge
of the growing program of letters to new
members and also handling correspond¬
ence with students and inquirers, as
already mentioned. Mrs. Hanson reports
that with the excellent assistance of Mrs.
Magdalene Picrro in keeping all the
records and addressing envelopes for the
new members’ letters program. 18,933
letters were mailed out during the last
year, an increase of more than 3000 over
the previous year, obviously reflecting
the growth in membership generally.
Naturally these letters, sent monthly to all
new members during the first two years
of membership, frequently elicit questions
or comments to which Mrs. Hanson must
reply, and she reports that as a consequ¬
ence of this further correspondence, she
has contact with approximately 17% of
the new members receiving the letters.

Special mention should be made of the
contributions of Mrs. Jean Tappendorf
who, during periods at Olcott between
lecture assignments, has worked on the
development of new program material.
Mr. Jim Person, whose staff duties include
chauffering and multilithing. has also
given part time assistance to the depart¬
ment, inspecting and repairing films and
copying tapes. Records of the publicity
leaflets are kept in the Department of
Education, with attention given from
time to time to necessary revisions, altera¬
tions or additions to our scries of pamph¬
lets; during the past year, 18 titles were
reprinted and a new pamphlet. When
Death Occurs , was issued.

The American Theosophist and Dis¬
covery. —A vital link in membership
4

communication is The American Theo¬
sophist, official organ of the Section, in
which appears regularly all official news,
reviews of the programs of branches,
federations, conferences, summer camps,
and the various allied activities, as well
as articles of general interest to the
membership.

Continuing the practice inaugurated
some years ago, two special issues of The
American Theosophist were published last
year. The theme of the Fall 1970 issue
was “ Meditation,” while that of the
Spring 1971 issue concerned “Some
Approaches to Healing.” Both issues
have had an outstanding reception; the
supply of the issue on meditation is com¬
pletely exhausted and many requests have
been received for its reprinting. A new
cover for these special issues was adopted
for the Spring 1971 edition. Mr. Thomas
A. Curran was responsible for its design
which has drawn extremely favorable
comment. Sales of the special issues
have been greatly augmented by their
display in the Quest Bookshop of The
Theosophical Publishing House.

In her summary of the year’s work, Mrs.
Hanson acknowledges her—and our—
appreciation to the Editorial Advisory
Committee, Mrs. Blanche Kilboume,
Mr. Capcl McCutchcon, Mr. John
Nimick and Mrs. Edith Schlosscr, for
their helpful advice and assistance in the
evaluation of manuscripts submitted for
publication. The size of the magazine—
and any increase in the number of pages
would add considerably to the cost of
publication—and the many official or
semi-official matters requiring inclusion
in The American Theosophist as our official
organ, prohibit the immediate publication
of many excellent articles that receive the
approval of the Advisory Committee,
but Mrs. Hanson has continued to render,
I think, a superior service in striking a
balance between articles,both inspirational

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

and informative, and business news,
while at all times maintaining a standard
of outstanding excellence in editorial
performance.

The small leaflet. Discovery , for the
publication of which Mrs. Hanson is also
responsible, continues to serve an ex¬
tremely valuable purpose in reaching
nonmembers and inquirers. Sixty-four
branches, in addition to the Canadian
Federation and the Puerto Rican Section,
subscribe to this journal, employing it as
the means for publishing their own
public programs and activities. Distri¬
bution of Discovery to branches and
members is handled through the Mem¬
bership Department, and Mrs. Beatrice
BorofT, who is chiefly responsible for
the maintenance of circulation records,
reports that during the past year 97,807
copies were distributed, an increase of
more than 13,000 over the previous year.
A number of individual members purchase
Discovery for redistribution to interested
friends and inquirers, and through Head¬
quarters, a copy is sent each month of
publication (September through May)
to all members-at-large. A continuing
grant from the Kern Foundation enables
branches and members utilizing this
excellent little publication to receive a 50%
subsidy on all quantity orders.

The Theosophical Publishing House .—
Continuing in the forefront of our
efforts to popularize Theosophy, as the
major thrust in the dissemination of the
Ageless Wisdom, is the work of The
Theosophical Publishing House. The
priceless heritage of our literature, en¬
riched each year with the addition of new
works, must be counted foremost among
the greatest assets of the Theosophical
Movement. It is appropriate indeed,
therefore that the second major structure
on our headquarters’ estate should be
principally devoted to the activities of
the Publishing House. The story of the

new building during the past year, how¬
ever, is one of both triumph and tragedy,
although overriding both aspects of the
story is the record of magnificent achieve¬
ment, of remarkable endurance, of inspir¬
ing cooperation. July II, 1970 was a
day of rejoicing, as we met during the
84th Convention to dedicate the new
building: Mrs. Margct Hamilton. Mayor
of the City of Wheaton, and Mr. Paul
Williams, representing the Corporate
Trustee of the Kern Foundation, joined
with the officers of the Society and the
members present to make this a truly
auspicious occasion. Here, in brick and
mortar, was represented the faith, the
determination, the combined efforts of
the membership: built out of the mickles
and muckles of our own resources, the
building was dedicated to the lofty ideals
given expression in all the books that
would move through it to members and
public. In the early morning hours of
February 2, 1971, black smoke billowed
from second floor windows as the new
building was scarred by fire. Tragedy,
yes. and yet a new kind of triumph
emerged, the triumph of human dedication
in a determination to get on with the
work no matter what the cost in personal
effort and sacrifice. Seldom, I am sure,
has a group of individuals been more
united, more beautifully courageous, more
willing to tackle the seemingly impossible
than was the Olcott Staff on that memor¬
able February day. Whatever other
events this incarnation may hold, I can
truly say that I shall never forget, and
certainly shall never cease to be grateful
for. the experience of inspiring comrade¬
ship evidenced on that cold February day
when every member of our headquarters’
family asked but one question: “What
can / do?” and, united in spirit, bound
by the ties of our mutual dedication to
the cause we serve, linked in an affection
beyond personal concern, we all moved

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

as one to begin the long, slow process
of restoration. So long as there is within
this Society such a group of servers, we
may be confident that the work to which
we have set our hands will prosper, our
cause must succeed, our ideals and dreams
will be realized. Let no one under¬
estimate the power of a few when those
few are united.

Under the excellent management of
Mr. Clarence R. Pedersen the Publishing
House moved forward to a new record
of sales achievement, expanding its
activities in a number of new directions.
The fire itself caused the loss of only one
day of business operation. Consequently,
I can report that overall sales in the
Publishing House were in excess of
$285,000 this year, an increase of some
$75,000 over the previous year. With
an estimated gross profit of nearly
SI30,000, it appears that net profit may
be approximately $25,000, an excellent
record in view of the inevitable increase
in operating expenses within the depart¬
ment. In considering the total financial
picture of the Publishing House, it must
be remembered that a greater volume of
business docs necessitate a greatly
increased inventory, so that the amount
invested in T.P.H., in addition to such
assets as building and equipment, includes
a major investment in book inventory in
order to meet anticipated demands.

A major development in the operation
of the Publishing House has been the
continued addition of sales representatives,
calling upon dealers in various parts of
the country. Following an initial pro¬
gram, inaugurated last year in the utiliza¬
tion of four representatives in eleven
western states, we now have ten represen¬
tatives covering all but the southeastern
states. The effectiveness of this program
may be gauged by noting that dealer
sales this year moved to a new high in
excess of $172,000, or nearly $60,000

more than the previous year. Plans are
under way to increase the number of
salesmen representing us, as well as to
utilize the services of a major book
exporter to represent us on the foreign
markets.

The visibility of our retail store, the
Quest Bookshop of Wheaton, in its
present location in the new building has
naturally resulted in increased retail
sales. Water damage resulting from the
fire caused the bookstore to be out of
operation for one week, but the reopening
of the facility constituted a record achieve¬
ment in terms of man-hours of labor.
Retail sales through the bookstore totaled
more than $16,000 during the past year,
more than 50% increase over similar
sales for the previous year. Mrs. Zclla
Batch is the indefatigable manager of the
bookstore in addition to her duties as a
receiving clerk in T.P.H. Assisted by
Miss Marie Minor, with occasional relief
from others, Mrs. Batch secs that the
bookstore is open six full days a week
as well as every Sunday afternoon.

Mention of the Quest Bookstore reminds
us of the signal honor that came to us
this year in the award received from the
Chicago Lighting Institute for excellence
in the interior illumination of the book¬
store. This now hangs in a prominent
place in the bookstore, reminding us that
such a lighting award may be truly symbolic
of the essential fact that our literature is
intended indeed to shed illumination in
a darkened world, to enlighten the minds
and hearts of people everywhere.

With the availability of Miss Marie
Minor, who had been for some time an
assistant in the Membership Department,
the Publishing House instituted a regular
program of direct mail advertising, largely
subsidized by a grant from the Kern
Foundation. Mailings arc spaced ap¬
proximately six weeks apart, with returns
estimated as between 2.2% and 3.1%, an

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

average which we are assured is very
good for direct mail advertising. Total
sales of approximately $3,OCX) arc
directly attributable to this program,
which is under the efficient direction of
Miss Minor. She reports that at the
beginning of the program, some 3700
names were on the mailing list, while the
last mailing of the fiscal year went to
nearly 8000 names.

The Publishing House continues to
perform the much appreciated service of
handling sales of the Society's publicity
leaflets, when these are ordered in
quantities, particularly by the branches.
During the past year, more than 112,000
leaflets, including the popular To Those
Who Mourn used by a number of in¬
dividuals to send to families suffering be¬
reavement, were sold. The continuation
of the grant from the Kern Foundation
enables branches ordering leaflets in
quantity to receive a 50% subsidy of the
cost, certainly a helpful contribution to
the work at the local level where these
pamphlets should serve a vital purpose in
supporting, complementing and expand¬
ing the public activities of every branch.

In spite of a number of personnel
changes within the ranks of the T.P.H.
team the closely knit group of workers
in that department arc a remarkable
example of adaptability, meeting crises
with beautiful equanimity, exchanging
duties as circumstances may require,
and all pulling together in unity to carry
on the ever increasing tasks which arc
an inevitable part of a growing publishing
and book business. Among those who
left during the past year, after longer
or shorter periods of service in the
Publishing House, we must mention Mr.
Stephen Englander, Mr. Alfic Gizzo (who
returned following the fire to lend some
weeks of assistance during that critical
period), Mr. Dennis Konschakc, Mr.
Theodore Masek, Mrs. Elizabeth Templcr,

Mrs. Leatha Webb, Mrs. Jacqueline Bush,
Mrs. Dolores Anderson, and Mr. Wallace
Wilson. Some of these had been resident
members of our staff - , while others were
non-resident, non-member employees. At
the end of the fiscal year, the Publishing
House staff* comprised—in addition to
Mr. Pedersen, Mrs. Balch and Miss
Minor, Mr. Randolph Miles of our
resident staff - , in charge of the shipping
department, with Mr. Harvey Dastrup
as a full time non-resident employee and
Mr. James Caulfield as a part-time
employee assisting in shipping, and. in
the office, Mrs. Doris Hughes, Mrs.
Joan Bergman and Miss Priscilla Ander¬
son as full-time non-resident employees,
with Mr. James Flint and Mr. Stephen
Blackburn giving occasional part-time
service as their college programs permitted.
To all, non-resident as well as resident
staff - workers, whether giving long-term
or brief service, we arc tremendously
indebted. Even the noting of the fact
that more than 22,000 invoices were
processed during the past year cannot
indicate the volume and extent of the
work that flows through this extremely
busy and vital department of the Society.

Each year, of course, brings the addition
of a number of new titles to our standard
listings of thcosophical works. While the
majority of additions are in the continually
growing Quest Book lists, the three major
Publishing Houses—Adyar, London and
Wheaton—continue to produce notable
works in hard-cover editions—either as new
titles or reprints. Among the publications
of our own Publishing House, special
mention must be made of the appearance
of Vol. I of the new, definitive edition of
Isis Unveiled , of which Mr. Boris dc
Zirkoff has served as editor. The re¬
appearance under our imprint of this
first major work from the pen of H. P.
Blavatsky, issued now in new format with
an extensive introduction and biography

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

of the author contributed by Mr. dc
ZirkofT, must be counted as a landmark
publishing event. Two other works
published this year under our imprint
deserve special attention: Man, Son of
Man by Sri Madhava Ashish, for which
we obtained the American rights from
Rider & Co. of England, and Mathe¬
matics of the Cosmic Mind by L. Gordon
Plummer. Both of these works, beautiful
in format and unique in content, arc
major contributions to our literature,
based on solid research into and intuitive
perception of the eternal truths restated
for us in The Secret Doctrine. A number
of works have been reprinted during the
year, and the outflow of publications
from both Adyar and London continues
to bring us significant and invaluable
titles for study, reflection, and sharing
as we ourselves seek to know Theosophy
and to disseminate it ever more widely.

One further notable development in
the activities of the Theosophical Publish¬
ing House deserves mention: this is the
establishment, by authorization of the
National Board of Directors, of the
H.P. Blavatsky Publications Reserve Fund.
The purpose of this fund is to attract
contributions from both members and
non-members to ensure the continued pub¬
lication (including reprinting) of the
volumes in the scries known as the
Collected Writings of H. P. Blavatsky,
edited by Boris de ZirkofT. To assist
in the growth of this fund, a percentage
on the sale of all Blavatsky works is
allocated annually to it. Hopefully, we
may bring into print as much of the
Blavatsky opus as is possible by our
centennial year, 1975.

Quest Books. —The publication of high
quality paper backs under the Quest
Books label continues to be not only the
major program supported by a grant from
the Kern Foundation, but also one of the
most significant activities in which wc arc

engaging in terms of its impact on our
efforts to spread Theosophy. The number
of titles published since the inception of
the program in 1966 now totals 70, with
the addition of 12 titles during the past
year. Six new titles were issued in paper¬
back, one of these appearing simul¬
taneously in hard cover; another title was
issued in cloth binding, with the paper¬
back edition to be released in the new
year. Four titles were added to the
Quest Books for Children series; one
work was issued as a Quest Book for
Young Adults, and two titles were added
to the Quest Miniature scries. During
the year, seven titles were reprinted, with
print runs increased to 25.000 copies per
title. Increased sales demand requires
such large print orders, forcing us to
carry considerable reserves in public
storage facilities. These facilities arc
beginning to prove impractical for a
number of reasons, and again I must
direct attention to the urgent need now
upon us to provide adequate storage
facilities on our own grounds. While
this will represent a further major ex¬
penditure, the continued efficient func¬
tioning of our total publishing venture,
including the proper preservation of reserve
stocks and the accurate inventoring of
that stock as well as the ready accessibility
of stock, demands that wc face up to this
obligation.

Nearly 151,000 Quest Books were sold
last year, including approximately 4500
Quest Books for Children. This re¬
presents an increase of almost 50.000
books over last year’s total indicative
of the continuing impact of our adver¬
tising program and the benefit to
be derived from expanded sales represen¬
tation. Several Quest Book titles arc
being listed as required reading in a
number of college courses, and we are
particularly fortunate that the Thcoso-
phical Book Gift Institute is able to

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

meet the numerous requests from profes¬
sors for examination copies of Quest
Books, pending their adoption as texts
or supplementary reading in a variety
of courses. When it is noted that the
inventory of Quest Books is maintained
separately from the inventory of the
Publishing House, T.P.H. taking books
into its own inventory only as required,
wc must acknowledge that the Quest
Book inventory of approximately
$150,000 represents a considerable asset
as part of our total reserves.

National Advertising. —Without the
major financial support of the Kern f oun¬
dation which provides an extensive na¬
tional advertising program, it would be
impossible to record the outstanding book
sales that have been indicated. In addi¬
tion, it must be recognized that it would
be impossible to maintain such an adverti¬
sing program without a subsidy, for our
own resources could not permit an under¬
taking of this magnitude. However good
or valuable a product one may have, others
must be informed of its existence and
availability, if the product is to be shared.
It is not so much that Theosophy com¬
petes in the market place of ideas, for I am
convinced the thcosophical philosophy is
without competition in its universality and
its uniqueness, nor does the literature of
Theosophy compete with other publica¬
tions, for it is unrivaled in its excellence,
but wc must tell our story, must inform
all who would seek knowledge and under¬
standing that there is a literature readily
at hand to aid in the search for wisdom.
Recognizing the importance of adver¬
tising as a means for the broader dissemi¬
nation of Theosophy, the Trustees of the
Kern Foundation have encouraged us,
by the approval of our requests for major
allocations, to engage in a broad-based
dynamic advertising program. We have
continued to engage the outstanding
professional services of Wolf & Krautter,

Inc., of Chicago, with whom we have
formed one of the happiest of working
relationships. That firm is responsible
for the design, production, and placement
of the Quest Book and related adver¬
tising in such publications as the trade
journal. Publishers Weekly and, to reach
the retail market, the New York Times
Book Review Section. Saturday Review,
National Observer, Harpers , Atlantic, Psy¬
chology Today, Psychic, Book World
{Chicago Tribune and Washington Post),
Los Angeles Times, and the Seattle Post -
Intelligencer. In addition, wc ourselves
undertook small promotional efforts, prin¬
cipally in some of the Wheaton area
papers as well as other publications, in
addition to the direct mail advertising
already referred to as part of the T.P.H.
operation. The periodic production of
price lists and brochures, both for the
retail trade and for the dealer market,
must be included as part of our total
advertising program. To a great extent,
the advertising program is designed to
support and aid the efforts made by our
salesmen in calling on dealers, while
at the same time exposing every title to
general advertising that will alert book
readers to the availability of this literature.
One need only note that our total book
sales have moved from approximately
$53,000 in 1966, just prior to the full-
scale initiation of the national advertising
program, to the record high of over
$285,000 this year, an increase of over
500 % in five years, to appreciate the value
and importance of the advertising efforts.

In addition to the general advertising
programs just noted, emphasis has also
been given to the fact that wc now serve
as sole agency for the distribution of the
Adyar Library Scries of Oriental texts,
a most eminent scries of works com¬
manding high academic respect. Ad¬
vertisements in academic and profes¬
sional journals, such as the Journal of

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Asian Studies, Philosophy East am/ West,
Review of Meta-physics, and the Journal
of Indian Philosophy called attention to
these works, as well as to the book
lending services of the Olcott Library
and Research Center. A display booth
at the Conference of the Associations
for Asian Studies, held this year in
Washington, D.C., was arranged, with
Dr. Charles S. J. White and Dr. Richard
W. Brooks in charge and Mr. Stephen
Blackburn assisting; an advertisement
was also placed in the program brochure
of that conference.

Quest Bookshops. —The continued expan¬
sion of the Quest Bookshops of New York
and Seattle, operated by the branches in
those two cities, augers well for the future
development of this type of program. The
New York Thcosophical Society reports
book sales of SI7,284 for the past fiscal
year, a slight drop from the preceding
year due to a number of factors, but
efforts arc now planned to step up an
advertising and promotional mailing cam¬
paign in the expectation of increasing
sales during the coming year. Assets
held by the bookstore include an inventory
in excess of $7,500. Merchandise sales
of S8.771 are reported by The Theoso-
phical Society in Seattle for the operation
of its Quest Bookshop, an increase of
nearly S3.000 over the previous year,
certainly an excellent record in view
of the depressed economic conditions
in the Seattle area. Fortunately, in
Seattle a number of members arc available
to contribute their time and services to
the work at the bookstore, eliminating
salary expenses which, in the case of
New York, constitute a major factor in
the operation. An inventory in excess
of $5,500 places the Seattle Quest Book¬
shop in an excellent position for the
continuation and expansion of its service.

Quest Books Film. —In terms of ex¬
posure to theosophical ideas, no medium

could be considered more effective than
that of film, for our first Quest Books
Film, “ How Many Lifetimes." has now
been viewed by an estimated audi¬
ence in excess of six million people.
The recipient of a number of major
awards, this film was named by Business
Screen in January 1971 as one of the
50 " most honored films ” of 1970,
out of a field of 15,000 films. While this
recognition reflects on the technical and
artistic production achieved for us by
Moynihan Associates of Milwaukee,
we cannot help but rejoice that the
theosophical philosophy should be
presented in so excellent a manner. Our
contract with Modern Talking Picture
Service, Inc., has proved most satisfactory
and the demand has exceeded all expecta¬
tions. The distributor has listed the
film in some 30 promotional pieces,
resulting in 324 requests that could not
be filled and causing us to increase the
number of prints to a total of 80 placed
at the disposal of Modern Talking Pictures.
That service reports that there were 162
telecasts of the film to an estimated
viewing audience in excess of 5,800,000.
while general group showings totaled
2,766 for a viewing audience of more
than 112,000. In the case of the general
group showings, the sponsoring organi¬
zation (in many instances a high school
or college) receives our specially designed
discussion guide to assist in the presenta¬
tion of the film. Reports returned to us
indicate the wide acceptance of the ideas
presented in the film as well as a keen
interest in the discussion of the topics
outlined in the guide. A number of
requests for Quest Books have been
received by the Thcosophical Book Gift
Institute from school libraries who have
seen the announcement on this con¬
tained in the discussion guide brochure.

As already mentioned, the Department
of Education has provided a film

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

distribution service for our own branches.
In addition. I presented a copy of the
film, as a gift of the American Section,
to the International Headquarters; a
showing was part of the International
Convention at Adyar when I was present
last December, and since 1 had the copy
of the film with me as I traveled, 1 was
able to show it also as part of the Pakistan
Convention. A showing of the film was
also the main public event at the North
American Thcosophical Students Confer¬
ence last fall.

The overwhelming response to the
release of our first film, and the excellent
record on its demand, resulted in final
approval being given by the Kern Founda¬
tion Trustees for the release of a grant
to initiate production of a second Quest
Books Film. This film, which will be
on the subject of reincarnation, is now in
the early stages of production, with its
release anticipated some time in the new
fiscal year.

Radio .—The popularity and wide-spread
distribution of our first Quest Books Film
and the anticipated expansion of a film
program over the next several years have
not diminished the importance of the
national radio effort, which is carried
on by a number of branches. A steady
and continuing response to the broad¬
casts would indicate that this medium of
communication remains a significant
method for the presentation of Theosophy
to relatively large audiences. Although
the grant from the Kern Foundation,
this year reduced to $9,000, was supple¬
mented by approximately $5,300 received
from the Edith Gray Trust, the National
Radio Fund was unable to support the
extensive assistance program maintained
in recent years. Therefore, in order to
provide more equitable distribution of the
funds available, the National Board of
Directors announced in January that in
the new fiscal year there would be a return

to the policy of granting only one-half
assistance to meet the cost of broad¬
casting by any branch utilizing radio
with some assistance also available to
advertise the radio talks. During the
past year. Theosophy was on the air in
13 cities. The Foundation for Radio
Theosophy, with Mrs. Sylvia Chase as
its newly elected Executive Secretary,
continues to be responsible for the
maintenance and handling of tapes in
connection with the radio broadcasts in
the various cities.

The Kern Foundation .—For a little over
five years now, the American Section has
been receiving substantial grants from the
Kern Foundation. The dramatic growth
of the Society’s activities and programs
during that period has been cause for much
rejoicing. We are now able, quite literally,
to reach millions of people with the
message of Theosophy, presented via
the media of film, radio, and the printed
word, as well as by lectures, discussions,
and classes. Herbert A. Kern, in
establishing the Foundation that bears
his name, sought “ to aid in the spiritual
enlightenment of his fellow man through
the wider dissemination of the thcos¬
ophical philosophy.” His objective
presented us with both a challenge and
an obligation, which we have sought to
meet and discharge to the best of our
ability and capacity. More than twenty
programs have received grants from the
Kern Foundation; this year, in excess
of $382,000 has been disbursed to the
Society by the Foundation to assist with
or fully support programs approved
by the Corporate Trustee upon the recom¬
mendation of the Kern Foundation Pro¬
grams Committee and at the request of
the National Board of Directors.
Separate ledger accounts are maintained
for each program and the financial state¬
ments on the Kern Foundation subsi¬
dized programs will appear concurrently

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

with those of the Society, following
the customary audit. In many instances,
of course, programs have additional
financial support from the Society’s own
resources, among which must be con¬
sidered the numerous individual contri¬
butions of both time and money at the
local level.

Nearly every section of this report
indicates some application of Kern
Foundation support; there is scarcely an
area of our work that has not been
affected in some degree by the existence
of this Foundation. Funds alone, how¬
ever, could not so radically transform
our operations, increasing our member¬
ship, inaugurating new programs, and in
numerous other ways stimulating the
Society’s activities. Only the devotion
and dedication of thcosophical members
at Headquarters and throughout the
Section, working in unison to achieve
the objectives for which the Society exists,
can insure the proper utilization of and
maximum benefits from the grants pro¬
vided by the Kern Foundation, for it is
people—loyal, steadfast, earnest workers
—who will ever constitute the Society’s
greatest resource and make possible its
beneficent influence in the world.

The one name which has become
almost synonymous with the Kern
Foundation supported programs is that
of Miss Helen Zahara, whose truly
incomparable management of the nume¬
rous activities which are either wholly
or partially funded by the Foundation’s
grants has set a record of unmatch¬
ed achievement. The encouragement,
assistance, and helpful advice received
from Mr. John C. Kern. Advising Trustee
and member of the Kern Foundation
Programs Committee, and from Mr. Paul
T. Williams, Vice-President of Northern
Trust Company, the Corporate Trustee,
have been greatly appreciated, and the
working relationship among us all is
5

one of happiest cooperation in our efforts
to further the purpose for which Mr.
Kern established the Foundation. During
the absence of Miss Zahara this past
spring, I acted as coordinator of the
several programs, and must express
therefore my personal gratitude to both
Mr. John Kern and Mr. Williams for their
courtesy and helpfulness to me during
that time. Needless to say, without the
assistance of many others, especially
Miss Zahara’s secretary, Mrs. Diane
Burckes. I could not have assumed this
responsibility at a time when adminis¬
trative duties were unusually heavy.

Mention should be made of the support
given to the expanded educational and
information services at Headquarters;
the program to subsidize new subscrip¬
tions to the International President’s
journal, The Theosophist; the scholarship
program, which this year assisted 56
members to attend workshops, seminars,
and inter-federation meetings; and the
programs which support our publishing
effort. Among the latter, two should be
mentioned: first, the program for provid¬
ing dust jackets for case bound books,
this year resumed with the design and
production of jackets for four books; and
second, the program to aid in the
publication of the Blavatsky writings,
particularly Isis Unveiled. Both of these
programs will now be discontinued, so
far as Kern Foundation support may
be involved. While the writer’s fellow¬
ship program was inactive this year, it
may be noted that three works published
during the past year directly resulted
from grants awarded under this program
in previous years: Shakespeare, Prophet
For Our Time by Henry Douglas Wild,
and the two works by Ruby L. Radford,
Many Paths to God and Through Rose-
Colored Glasses.

The Kern Foundation Trustees have
encouraged the National Board of

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Directors to take positive steps toward
securing the usual employee benefits for
long-term member-workers of the Society.
This had been a matter of concern to the
Directors through several administrations,
with some benefits established as financial
circumstances permitted. However, the
increasing need to assure the continuity
of programs initiated with Kern Founda¬
tion support, as well as to maintain the
efficiency required for the smooth function¬
ing of all the Society’s activities, stimulated
discussions between the Board of Directors
and the Foundation’s Trustees leading to
the establishment of more adequate
benefits, both to aid long-term full-time
workers and to encourage younger mem¬
bers to volunteer for full-time service at
Headquarters. Accordingly, in 1970, with
Kern Foundation assistance, the National
Board of Directors extended the benefits
provided Headquarters’ staff workers by
increasing the annual vacation allowance
and providing medical coverage under the
Blue Cross-Blue Shield group plan. The
Board further placed on record its re¬
cognition of a continuing responsibility,
to provide a retirement allowance for the
Society’s long-time staff members, estab¬
lishing an Oleott Staff Retirement Plan
and instituting an Oleott Staff Retirement
Fund. It is proposed to finance this
fund by annual appropriations from the
Society’s funds and from contributions and
bequests designated for this purpose.

Oleott Staff .—While many of the cur¬
rent programs undertaken by the Society
have been established or expanded as a
result of very large contributions from the
Kern Foundation, it must be recognized
that the Society’s ability to carry out these
activities as well as all its operations,
depends on continued service from its own
members. Through the years since the
establishment of our national center,
Oleott, at Wheaton, we have been most
fortunate in attracting to the Society’s

service loyal and dedicated members who,
forgetful of self, are willing to spend
themselves tirelessly in support of the
work. I have never succeeded in finding
words adequate or sufficiently expressive to
convey my own gratitude to the team of
workers with whom it is my privilege to
serve. Who shall say which is the greater
service—to prepare a meal, to sweep a
floor, to polish a table, to greet a visitor,
to plant a tree, or to keep the accounts,
give a lecture, edit a magazine, answer a
business letter, plan a seminar program?
At Oleott, one learns that no duty is less
significant, no work without meaning. In
reviewing our varied and numerous
activities, I have mentioned a number of
names in this report, but everyone who
serves at Oleott, for a longer or a shorter
period, is engaged in work of equal
significance, for a vacancy in any area
impinges on every aspect of our labors.

This past year, as usual, there have been
a number of changes in personnel. Many
have already been referred to, but the
list of those who have left must be extended
to include Miss Martha Hoagland, who
after two and a half years principally as
secretary to Miss Zahara, left last August;
Mr. Lennie Dclassus. who served as
custodian for nearly nine months, leaving
at the end of March; and Mr. Robert
Thibodeau, who gave some weeks of
assistance in the housekeeping department.
Mrs. Ellen Gerster, who joined the staff
in late 1969 as dining department manager,
was forced because of illness to leave
Oleott in early April. During the ex¬
tended absence last fall of Mrs. Robertina
Pumyea. our indefatigable housekeeper,
we were fortunate that Mrs. Ruth Doak
could return to assume Mrs. Pumyca’s
duties for several weeks. Among those
joining the staff during the year, in addition
to those mentioned in other sections of
this report, let me mention Mr. William
Goodman, recently transferred from

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

housekeeping to the Publishing House
Office, an d Mr. John Lopez, who was
transferred from duties as custodian to
work on the grounds, when Mr. Roberto
Enciso joined us as custodian on the first
of June. A most important service is
performed every year by Mrs. Mary
McCain, who rejoins us annually to take
care of the all-essential task of Convention
registration, but who, happily, finds time
in the midst of that duty to assist in the
dining department.

A current listing of staff personnel
must include Mr. Robert Gephardt, who
continues to serve in both grounds and
maintenance departments; Mr. Edwin
Lord, whose title as Financial Advisor
scarcely conveys the numerous responsi¬
bilities he cheerfully and most helpfully
assumes; Mrs. Marcella Lord, who acts
as purchasing agent, supervises the
multilith department, and carries on the
secretarial work of the Financial Advisor;
Mr. James Person, whose time is divided
between duties as chauffeur and multilith
operator, in addition to giving service
in the Department of Education checking
films and copying tapes; Mr. Charles
Saas, whose versatile capacities arc called
on to aid in the dining department, take
care of the Section shipping department,
and contribute to the maintenance of the
grounds; and Miss Anne Storrs, whose
good nature is tested daily in her service
to me as the National President’s secretary.

Each year, I struggle to find precisely
the appropriate words to describe the
service given by one whose comradeship
in the work has been, and continues to be.
an inspiration and support to ail who live
and serve at Oleott. My own gratitude for
her cver-wisc counsel, her unflagging
devotion, her perceptive understanding of
every problem, and her willingness always
to listen to the need of the moment, can
only be expressed in the simple words,
“ Thank you, Ann.” For Mrs. Ann Wylie,

whose office as National Secretary is the
main clearing house for all that goes on
at our busy and active headquarters,
weaves together the many varied strands
of life and work at Oleott, ever balancing
the needs of the total work with the
availability of workers. I have often
thought that she might well be called
“ Mrs. Oleott,” so completely is she
identified with all that transpires at our
national center. More than that, how¬
ever, one had only to watch her through
the weeks and days of her husband’s
final illness and at the time of his quiet
passing from us to recognize that here
is one for whom Theosophy is indeed a
living reality.

When Mrs. Gerster became ill in early
April, it was Mrs. Wylie who once again
stepped into the central task of managing
the dining department and with the
assistance of Mrs. Schlosscr and others,
maintained that service uninterruptedly.
Our wonderful cooks, very much part of
our Oleott family although non-resident,
deserve deepest appreciation for the
manner in which they so efficiently take
care of our well-being—Mrs. Marie
Dastrup, Mrs. Virgic Ness, and Mrs.
Loretta Grabc.

As we enter the new fiscal year, our
major needs at Headquarters include the
filling of vacancies in dining department,
management, housekeeping assistance, and
secretarial and clerical positions.

Headquarters .—With the growth in our
overall activities and programs, the im¬
portance and significance of a national
center become ever more apparent. Every
member may look to Oleott as to a
spiritual home, for in addition to being
the extremely busy administrative head¬
quarters, Oleott is also a dynamic center
of beauty, peace, and loving harmony.
All who come onto the grounds remark
on the singular atmosphere that prevails,
the sense of stability in the midst of a

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPH1CAL SOCIETY

world experiencing the uprooting of
established values. Care is continually
exercised in the maintenance of the build¬
ing and grounds, so that this resource,
annually growing in value, may be
utilized in the best possible manner.

This spring, it became apparent that
Mr. Samuel Wylie, who had been in
charge of the grounds for a number
of years, could no longer carry on those
duties, and shortly before Mr. Wylie’s
death, arrangements were made for Mr.
Fritz Locnholdt to take on that res¬
ponsibility, in addition to his work in
the Olcott Library. Under Mr.
Locnholdt’s competent supervison and
as a result of his own untiring labors, the
grounds arc, I believe, more beautiful
than ever this year. For this we must also
thank the several other diligent workers
who have assisted Mr. Loenholdt, in¬
cluding Mr. Saas, Mr. Gephardt, Mr.
Lopez, and, more recently Mr. Nathaniel
Altman and Mr. Dan Chisholm, both of
whom began full-time summer service
after the beginning of the new fiscal
year.

Following the death at Olcott last
August of Mr. Tony Balch, Mrs. Balch
established a tree fund in memory of her
husband; a number of major plantings
were added to the north side of the Bcsant
Grove, thus extending that area signifi¬
cantly. This spring, Mrs. Ann Wylie
initiated a tree fund to memorialize her
husband, and while those plantings have
been deferred to next fall, it is planned
to extend the plantings adjacent to the
Brother Raja Memorial Grove, in an area
particularly loved by Sam. One major
change on the grounds may also be men¬
tioned, especially for those familiar with
the gardens and groves which add beauty
to the estate. Drainage problems, to¬
gether with the expense that would have
been involved in rebuilding the area,
caused us to transform the well-known

“ pixie pool ” in the Aubrey Garden
to a pixie rock garden.

In addition to the administrative and
departmental activities that consume the
major time of the staff workers at Olcott,
the National Headquarters is the scene of
several public events each year. Regular
monthly lectures are augmented each fall
and spring by a series of classes, to which
interested inquirers from the surrounding
area are invited. Attendance at these
events continues to increase, even beyond
our capacity to accommodate the crowd.
A public address system in the third floor
auditorium enables the overflow audience
in the library to hear the lectures, but the
Thursday evening public classes, generally
held in the library, have frequently been
so large that we have simply ceased to
advertise them in an effort to reduce the
number to a size that could be com-
fotrably accommodated. An especially
popular event, developed during the
past year, has been a Wednesday evening
“ rap session." attracting a considerable
number of young people, although all
who are “ young at heart " are also wel¬
come. Under the general leadership of
Jim Person, this weekly gathering explores,
in complete freedom, any subject or
question that may arise, and exciting dis¬
cussions have often been the order of
the day—or night. It will be a happy
day, indeed, when we can realize our
dream of erecting a suitable auditorium
that will provide facilities for year-
around member and public events, as well
as accommodate our annual national
gatherings. While other needs, especially
the provision of adequate book storage
and maintenance equipment facilities,
are more urgent, we must not neglect to
give attention to far-rangc planning for
developments at Olcott that will meet
the growing needs for facilities appropriate
to the volume of work and activities
carried on through this vital center.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Allied Activities .—While the chief focus
of our annual survey of the Society’s work
is given to those activities and programs
centered through and carried on at the na¬
tional headquarters, we cannot omit refer¬
ence to the many important and supportive
activities engaged in by members, either
individually or in groups, throughout
the Section. It is not possible, of course,
to report on these in detail, although
regular reports on the major allied groups
do appear in the pages of The American
Theosophist. The Young Theosophists of
America continue an active program in
many parts of the country, and this year
have published occasional newsletters
and magazines. Many members find it
possible to put Theosophy to work in
meeting specific needs through the
activities of the Thcosophical Order of
Service, the Thcosophical Book Associa¬
tion for the Blind, the Thcosophical Book
Gift Institute, the Parents Thcosophical
Research Group, and the Order of the
Round Table in America. A number of
members have been involved in an ex¬
periment in community living through
the development of the Taormina Theo-
sophical Community, Inc., at Ojai, Cali¬
fornia. Ojai is also the headquarters of
the very active Krotona School of Theo¬
sophy, which, while administered inde¬
pendently of the Society, contributes
greatly to the standard of our activities
throughout the Section by the presenta¬
tion of outstanding teachers and lecturers
on various aspects of Theosophy. A
resolution adopted at the 1970 Convention
led to the appointment of a national
committee, of which Mr. Jay Finley
Downs has agreed to serve as chairman,
to study the feasibility of establishing
a theosophical college; a report on this
activity will be presented at the 1971
Convention. All who contribute to one
or another of these several allied activities
arc certainly giving practical expression

to the theosophical philosophy, at the
same time enriching their own lives
by the discipline of cooperative service.

National By-Laws .—Following the
approval at the 1970 Convention of a
number of amendments to the National
By-Laws, as recommended by the National
Board of Directors, a new edition of
the By-Laws, incorporating all amend¬
ments adopted since the major revisions
approved in 1963, was issued. The
National Board of Directors continues
to give alert attention to the organizational
structure of the Society, that it may be
both sound enough to sustain continued
growth and flexible enough to provide the
maximum freedom of operation essential
to that expansion. The assistance of
a National By-Laws Revision Committee
and the advice of the National Judiciary
Committee arc especially appreciated in
the maintenance of this aspect of our
work.

Finances .—I have purposely deferred a
discussion of our financial situation until
near the conclusion of this report, not
because the matter is of less significance
than the numerous activities in which we
arc engaged, but rather because it must
be emphasized that these activities can only
be maintained and expanded if there is a
secure financial base to our total operation.
A Financial Advisory Committee, under
the chairmanship of Mr. Edwin N. Lord,
together with the National Treasurer,
Mr. Thcron B. Chancy, and our most
efficient cashier and bookkeeper. Miss
Clarice Richie, comprise the group in¬
timately concerned with the finances of
the Society. All of us, however, have
an obligation for, as well as a stake in,
the Society’s future. As I have said on
previous occasions and would reiterate
once more, I am one w ho is fully convinced
that when a cause is right there will be
a way to give it expression, that when a
program meets human needs, human

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

will can support it. During the past
year, the members have responded magni¬
ficently and generously to the appeals
which the Board of Directors authorized
me to make and I am therefore encouraged
to believe that the directions set by the
present administration meet with the
general approval of the membership,
particularly in view of such excellent
financial support.

The total expense for the activities
and administration of the Society during
the past year approximated SI59.(XX).
while income received in the general
operating fund, including net income from
the Publishing House, is estimated to be
nearly $82,000. As in recent years, we
are fortunate that special grants from the
Kern Foundation subsidizing many areas
of our expanded program of activities
will aid in meeting the deficit otherwise
indicated by those figures. Naturally,
without such subsidy, it would have been
necessary to reduce the scope of our
activities or, in some instances, cancel
programs in which we are engaged.
Largely as a response to an appeal sent to
the membership in early spring, donations
this year totalled nearly S8.000, with
additional contributions in excess of
SI.000 being placed directly into our re¬
serve fund in accordance with the long¬
standing policy of the National Board of
Directors. A further $1,100 was received
in the form of bequests.

Members have continued to be mindful
of the need to retire the indebtedness on
the T.P.H. building, with donations during
the past year totaling in excess of $24,000.
This generous assistance enabled us to
begin our program of retiring loans help¬
fully made by branches and individuals
during the period of construction; approxi¬
mately SI 1,000 of our loan indebtedness
was retired at the end of the fiscal year.
If we can maintain the same level of
donations for the T.P.H. Building Fund

over the next four years, I believe we
can meet all our remaining obligations
on this facility.

Most encouraging of all, as we survey
our financial situation, has been the
growth in our Membership Endowment
Fund. In response to our suggestions in
the annual dues letter, many members
contributed sums in excess of the normal
dues, while 28 members found it possible
to endow their membership either in
whole or in part, bringing the number
of fully endowed memberships of active
members to a total of 256. Since 34
members who had so endowed their
memberships arc now deceased, that
portion of the fund is freed from any
dues allocation; in addition, several
members have taken out endowment
memorials, thus increasing the fund.
Truly there could be no more beautiful
way to remember an individual than to
contribute in his name to the fund intended
to endow the Society's work in perpetuity.
The Membership Endowment Fund is
administered by the Theosophical Invest¬
ment Trust, which holds it as a segregated
fund in its portfolio of investments; the
Fund has now moved from last year’s
total of S86.000 to approximately S93.000
at the conclusion of the 1970-71 fiscal
year.

The Theosophical Investment Trust,con¬
tinuing to serve as the main financial
arm of the Society, now holds funds in
excess of $668,000 in its several capital
accounts. Of this total, nearly $173,000
is held in the ABC-America Fund, for the
benefit of the international work. During
the year, the Trust remitted to the Society
nearly $20,000 in addition to approxi¬
mately $2,300 allocated to dues income
for members of the Endowment Fund.

International Aspects .—Returning brief¬
ly to some aspects of our international
obligations, in further elaboration of my
opening remarks about our responsibilities

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

within the world framework of the
Society, I would call attention to the
opportunity given us annually to support
the center at Adyar. This year, the con¬
tributions of this Section to the Adyar
Day Fund amounted to S5.3I8, approxi¬
mately SI,000 more than last year.

The importance of the Non-English
Publications Loan Fund Committee was
underscored this year when the President,
Mr. N. Sri Ram. assumed the chairman¬
ship of the committee, while asking Miss
Zahara to remain as the active coordinator
of the work to be undertaken when and
as funds permit. If each member could
resolve that whenever he purchases a
theosophical book he contributes a like
amount to the fund which is intended to
provide theosophical literature for the
vast population of non-English readers
around the world, that fund would
soon be sufficient to initiate the numerous
projects urgently awaiting attention.

Conclusion .—We are now but four brief
years from the centenary observation of
the founding of this Society. Inevitably,
our thoughts turn to all that may be
accomplished in 1975; we begin to visual¬
ize the commemorative celebrations in
New York City, to plan the world tour
that will take us, “ In the Footsteps of
the Founders,” from New York to London
to Europe and on to India for the 100th
Convention at Adyar, thence returning
possibly via Australia. There is much to
do to be ready for that centennial event.
At the last General Council meeting at
Adyar, an international committee was
appointed to coordinate the scheduling of
the centennial conferences around the
world. There has even been discussion
on some of the preliminary program
arrangements for the New York meetings.

At the Society’s founding, however,
no timetable was drawn up to determine
the date on which brotherhood would be
achieved nor was a deadline set for the

establishment of world understanding.
“ The world was not evolved between two
monsoons.” wrote one whom many
consider among the Adept Founders
of this Society, and we might well add
that man is unlikely to attain the full
stature of his humanhood between the
reading of two books on Theosophy.
We are engaged in a work which, whether
it takes one lifetime or several lives, is a
work essentially beyond the concerns
of time. ** For countless generations,"
wrote a great Teacher. “ hath the adept
builded a fane of imperishable rocks,
giant’s Tower of Infinite Thought. ..
and we will go on in that periodical work
of ours; we will not allow ourselves to
be baffled in our philanthropic attempts
until that day when the foundations
of a new continent of thought are so firmly
built that no amount of opposition. . .
will be found to prevail.” We who have
joined this Movement have the privilege
of assisting in building the foundations
of that new continent. At no other time
has so much been given; from no other
group should so much be expected.

Recently a friend asked me if I were
at all optimistic about the future, adding
that it seemed inevitable that our present
civilization should destroy itself in view
of all man is doing to himself and his
planet. The Thcosophist cannot indulge
in optimistic fantasies of immediate
utopianism; he dare not plunge into
pessimistic nightmares of sudden world
destruction. Ever the realistic idealist,
he must resolutely keep faith with the
high purpose of evolution, must never
lose sight of the divine in the human
man, must be willing to light even a
small candle in the darkness, to perform
even the simplest service if it will advance
the cause of human brotherhood.

If we face the future with quiet confi¬
dence, neither content with things as they
arc, nor yet discouraged that we can do so

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

little to effect the transformation of the
world; if we commit ourselves wholly and
unreservedly to humanity's unfinished
agenda for peace and brotherhood, our
vision undimmed by past or present
blunders; if we can keep faith in the spirit
of man, while yet unconcerned whether our
efforts to awaken that spirit bear fruit
now or in future lives, then I believe it
will be said of us and of our time; This
indeed was the time, of all times, when
men who were truly brothers pointed the
way to a universal brotherhood in which
all peoples could come together in har¬
mony; this was the time, of all times,
when the earth and all its creatures were
preserved by man. for there walked upon
it those who reverenced life, knowing its
sanctity and its oneness; this was the
time, of all times, when the spirit of Truth
illumined the world, for there moved
through the world those who revealed
the splendor of its shining. Whatever
else we may have accomplished this year,
let us hope we have taken one small step
towards the realization of that vision.

(U.S.A. Supplementary Report, June I
to September 30, 1971).

As has become customary through the
years, the major event of the summer
months is the Annual Convention and
Summer School. This year the Eighty-
fifth Convention was held at the National
Headquarters, Olcott, from July 23 to 26,
followed by a Summer School from July
28 to August 1. Guest speakers were
Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Hodson; in addi¬
tion, quite unexpectedly, Srimati Rukmini
Devi Arundale was able to be present
for the Convention. “The Self-
Regeneration of Man ” was the theme
explored in lectures, symposia, and dis¬
cussions. Several innovative programs
were introduced, including a “ Thcoso-
phical Lcam-In,” when members explored
the resources of the rapidly expanding
Olcott Library and Research Center,

and “ Mini-Workshop.” when practical
suggestions for branch work were shared.

Special workshop/seminar weeks were
features of the programs of the several
summer camps. This year, a new camp
was added to the roster with the esta¬
blishment of the Ozark Theosophical
Camp and Educational Center, serving
particularly the midwestern area of the
United States. Located in Arkansas, in
the beautiful rolling country of the Ozark
Mountains, this new camp was inaugurated
with a week’s program conducted by
Mrs. Mattie Louise Gephardt. Weeklong
seminars on The Secret Doctrine were
conducted by the National President, Miss
Joy Mills, assisted by Miss Helen Zahara,
at the two west coast camps, Indralaya
on Orcas Island. Washington, and Far
Horizons in the H igh Sierras of California.
Mrs. Jean Tappendorf represented the
national headquarters at a workshop pro¬
gram at Pumpkin Hollow Farm in New
York. The annual Young Thcosophists
Camp was held this year at Far Horizons.

Any survey of the brief period between
June 1 and September 30 must take
account of the fact that w hile traditionally
these months represent vacation periods
in the United States, the pace of the work
at the national center, Olcott, continues
to accelerate. Book sales continue to
set new records, indicating the effective¬
ness of sales representation to dealers
throughout the country.

A total of 255 new members were wel¬
comed into the Society during this period,
and new study centers were officially
certified at Madison, Wisconsin, and
Davenport, Iowa. The Krotona School
of Theosophy reports record attendance
at the opening of its fall term in September,
no doubt due to the presence of Guest
Teacher Geoffrey Hodson.

Joy Mills,

General Secretary.

ENGLAND

General .—The position with regard
to the recruitment of new members is
reasonably satisfactory. We recruited 175
in 1971 as against 194 in 1970, a decrease
of 19. Fewer members died or resigned
but so far the number of members who
have lapsed seems to have increased.
This however may be due to the fact
that our year has been changed from 31
December to 30 September, and Lodge
Treasurers may still be holding members’
subscriptions. The Section has a very
large proportion of its membership over
60 in the case of women and over 65
in the case of men. This means that
although last year we raised our subscrip¬
tion rates the increase to the Section
revenue has not been much because so
many members claim the reduction due to
them on account of their age, and a
number of other members have also paid
reduced subscriptions.

The Section is also suffering financially
from the withdrawal of voluntary labour.
It appears that now there arc not the
people with time to spare from their
ordinary daily activities to come and
help at Headquarters. This particularly
applies to jobs which require full time
attention. The Section is therefore having
to pay commercial rates in some cases,
and near commercial rates in others,
for such assistance. It looks as if this
might be a future trend. Other costs of
running the Section have also signifi¬
cantly increased. The financial position
of the Section is a problem on two counts:
(I) that somehow or other increased
revenue has to be found or our activities
curtailed and establishment charges re¬
duced, and (2) if activities have to be
reduced a decision has to be made in
what directions. It is generally regarded
that the Society as an organization exists
not only to promote the ideas of brother-
6

hood, etc., but also to spread the Thcoso-
phical message. Our promotional activ¬
ities may have to be curtailed below even
the low level at which they were taking
place. Due to ageing membership Lodges
continue to die. Very often this is not
because there are not members or there
are not suitable premises, or even that
the Lodge has no money, it is because no¬
body can. or will, undertake the adminis¬
trative work. If this trend continues
there will be an increasing proportion
of unattached members within the Section,
and this will apply until such time as
membership figures increase locally such
that groups can be formed again into
Centres and Lodges. It appears however
with our rate of recruitment that this
will be some time hence.

In order to provide members with
guidance, we have increased the number
of private and group study courses
available. These arc now as follows:

i. Introductory Course.

ii. Fundamentals Course,

iii. Thcosophical Self-Training Course.

iv. A Self-Enlightenment Course,

v. A Reading Guide to the Secret
Doctrine,

vi. A Secret Doctrine Study Course
in two parts, Anthropogcncsis and Cosmo-
gcncsis, and

vii. A Course on The Mahatma Letters
to A. P. Sinnctt.

A revision of the Section’s publicity
material, leaflets and booklets, has been
undertaken by a Study and Training
Committee. They have in mind in doing
this that the teachings put out as Thcoso¬
phical should be as nearly as possible
in line with those given us by the Masters
through H. P. B. The plan will be the
production of (I) a standard handout
leaflet describing very briefly Theosophy
and The Thcosophical Society (2) a 36-

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

page booklet enlarging on the headings
in the leaflet for second inquirers, (3) a set
of Manuals on the elements of theoretical
and applied Theosophy for later inquirers
and students. This set of Manuals could
form the basis for a modern Thcosophical
textbook. The work proceeds on the
production of the leaflets and the booklets
but it has not yet started on the Manuals.

Amongst the new members joining the
Society is a reasonable proportion of
young people who bring with them present
day attitudes to life and study. Some of
these are very promising young thcoso-
phists. As General Secretary I can report
the beginnings of a revival in interest in
occultism and I heosophy in particular
judging by the authors and newspaper
representatives who have been to see me.
In the main these are sympathetically dis¬
posed, and we are beginning to get im¬
proved press notices, but these are still
very few indeed.

There is one area where we have had
some success and this is in meditation for
the public. We have produced a manual
for the guidance of leaders in the tech¬
niques of taking public meditation groups.
These have had a very reasonable success
in London and in particular in one
provincial town of only 60,000 inhabitants
where between 30 and 50 people come
to the group. The Meditation Course
is on classical lines with about four types
of exercise. The first is preliminaries
wherein people assume a correct medita¬
tion position, have regard to their breath¬
ing and generally quieten themselves
down. Then there are concentration and
visualisation exercises and three different
types of “thinking" exercises which
include giving attention to the physical
body, the emotions, the mind; and then
there is some consciousness raising mate¬
rial in the form of fundamental Ihcoso-
phical thoughts or material for the de¬
votee and the aspirant.

The Section’s Annual Convention was
again held in an hotel in London and was
attended by 180 people. The theme was
" Theosophy Today and Tomorrow" and
the speakers talked on the subject under
the heading of various approaches. For
example "The Individual Approach”,
“ The Sceptic’s Approach ”, “ The

Religious Approach", “ The Student
Approach " and so on. The Convention
was judged a success.

The Society’s Summer School was held
in Nottingham University and was
attended by the President who gave two
talks and answered questions. The theme
of the Summer School was “ Theosophical
Miscellany" and a wide range of aspects
of Theosophy was dealt with, but it was
remarkable that nearly all the contribu¬
tions dealt with man’s spiritual develop¬
ment. The Tekels Park Guest House is
reasonably well used and the various
study week-ends arranged both by Head¬
quarters and others arc in the main well
attended, but much more use could be
made of this beautiful place with its
splendid amenities for 'Theosophical
gatherings.

Library Report .—During the past year
we have issued 4.963 books, slightly fewer
than in 1970. but owing to the increasing
cost of travel many members have been
unable to get to Headquarters to borrow
books. Similarly owing to the long postal
strike in the early part of the year we
have only been able to send 178 parcels
of books to our members in all parts of
the British Isles. Public Libraries
throughout the country have borrowed
68 books on Theosophical subjects and
65 new books have been added to the
Lending Library.

Publicity and Information .—During this
period 769 inquirers’ letters have been
answered and follow-up correspondence
handled. Sixteen bookings were made
for provincial showings of the film “ How

INDIA

Many Lifetimes?" and arrangements
made for a month’s showing of the film in
Denmark and a further month in Sweden.
Ten provincial lecture tours were arranged
and 150 lecture tapes distributed. Five
tours (20 lectures) were arranged for Mr.
Will Ross during his visit to the United
Kingdom. Lectures were also arranged
after inquiries from 19 outside organiza¬
tions. A program of public lectures
for Sunday evenings at Headquarters
was arranged. A growing number of
young people arc attending these lectures
and question time following each lecture is
lively and provocative. The lecture room
is usually crowded. These young people
do not take quickly or lightly to the idea
of membership of the Society but promise
well for the future. Members of two
new study courses that have started at
Headquarters arc mainly recruited from
Sunday night audiences.

Advertisements were placed in 12
Student Yearbooks (1971-72), 12 Student
Newspapers (3 times), 4 national news¬
papers (twice), 6 suburban newspapers (3
times), 5 national journals (twice).
Provincial Lodges have placed their own
advertisements, and advice and assistance
have been given from Headquarters.
Posters have been placed throughout the
year in 103 positions in London
Underground Stations.

During this period the Publicity Depart¬
ment prepared and presented to the

Executive a document suggesting a number
of ways of promoting the Society and its
Objects. Some of these ideas including the
production of a new information leaflet,
the preparation of a follow-on booklet
and a special promotion number of
The Theosophical Journal have been
implemented.

The Theosophical Journal and a News¬
letter to members who arc not attached to
Lodges are produced bi-monthly, and
the promotion Journal is being circulated
to writers and producers in broadcasting,
editors of selected national newspapers
and journals, to a selected list of university
professors and lecturers, and other key
people of influence.

Theosophical Publishing House Ltd .—
No new titles have been produced this
year, but the following reprints were
produced: Tao Teh King by I. Mcars.
Meditation for Beginners by J. I.
Wedgwood. Commentaries of Hierocles
on Golden Verses of Pythagoras.

bookshops sales arc three times those
of last year, and Export Orders have
continued to increase also.

Books were supplied for show and sale
to the bookstalls at the English Convention
in London, as usual, and the Summer
School held at Nottingham University.

G. A. Earthing,
General Secretary.

INDIA

The report of the work done each year
has necessarily to detail the continuation
of activities along familiar lines. Yet
every year, that work however familiar
be its external features, is refreshed by
new springs of vitality flowing through
the earnest and true workers who arc at the

heart of the activities of the Theosophical
Society.

The work of the Society is uphill and
is likely to be for a long time to come,
considering how grossly self-centred and
callous man is in general. It is at times
disheartening to look at the world with

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

the vast suffering that millions have to
endure, the never-ending cruelty of man
to man, not to speak of the cruelty in¬
flicted on creatures other than man, and
the appalling ignorance of the essential
truths of life. No Thcosophist can be
indifferent to the sad condition of the
world. It is out of a deep regard for life
and compassion in the face of suffering—
not personal suffering, but the suffering
of all—that a true search for Theosophy
or the Divine Wisdom begins. So, every
true Thcosophist has to be sensitive to
the existence of suffering at every level
in the world. The earnestness of one’s
endeavor to understand Theosophy and
its profound significance, depends on
the intensity with which one feels the
need of wisdom to dispel the darkness
of ignorance and suffering.

To the earnest Thcosophist, who is
sensitive to the world’s travails, whose
heart is full of concern and deep sympathy,
it is faith in the ultimate destiny of man
and his immortal nature that sheds rays
of hope and the inspiration necessary to
direct his footsteps towards the distant
light. So even where progress seems
slow, even when the task is uphill, those
who understand Theosophy even very
partially, work with confidence and a
vigour which renews itself. Such con¬
fidence and energy arc very different from
the self-possession and drive of the ambi¬
tious or self-centred man of the world.
The confidence and faith born of an
instinctive recognition of the fundamental
truths of life is accompanied by the
yearning to know the fulness of truth and
the humbleness necessary for the search;
the energy which turns into service,
because the truth of brotherhood has
been perceived, is an energy whose heart
is peace.

During the year, a number of workers
who have rendered signal service in the
Indian Section have passed on, leaving

behind an example of devotion and stead¬
fast service for others to follow. They
included: Miss K. A. Bccchey, who passed
away in May 1971 and who came to
Adyar from England, and worked in
the International Headquarters for many
years, part of the time as Recording
Secretary of the International Society.
She was a member of the Indian Section
and of the Adyar Lodge during these
years and generously gave of what she
had, monetarily and otherwise to the
Section. Bro. C. Subbarayadu was
another veteran worker at Adyar, who
was Manager of the Vasanta Press of the
Society, and continued to work even in
old age with unflagging devotion and
self-abnegation. He passed away in April
of this year. The summer of this year
also saw the loss of Sri Sri Prakasa, the
son of Dr. Bhagawan Das, who was a
member of the Indian Section from 1912,
and who had a distinguished career which
included the Governorship of the States
of Madras, Assam and Bombay. Also of
Sri V. Karunakaran Nair, who joined
the Society in 1906 and gave whole-time
service to the cause of promoting Theo¬
sophy in Kerala. He was the author of
several books in Malayalam, held olficcs
in the Federation at different times and
was highly respected by all. Prof. M. N.
Tolani was a valued worker at the Indian
Section Headquarters and was also much
appreciated as a National Lecturer.
Many of his articles appeared in The
Thcosophist and The Theosophical Review.
His sudden passing away has left a void
at the Headquarters. Such also was the
ease with Bro. H. F. Coachbuilder, who
was Secretary of the Gujarat Federation
and a pillar of the Society at Bhavnagar.
Others who left the physical plane during
the year were Srimathi Lakshmibai Gadgil,
who was a generous friend of the Section
and Sri T. V. S. Ramakrishna Rao, a pro¬
minent worker of the Telugu Federation.

INDIA

A very large number of Lodges were
visited by the National Lecturers during
the year, although at no time do the tours
of lecturers seem adequate enough be¬
cause of the great area of the country.
Among the National Lecturers, Sri M.
Krishnamacharyulu has travelled for long
periods at a time, lecturing in the Uttar
Pradesh, Telugu, Marathi, Madhya
Pradesh-Rajasthan. Karnataka. Bengal
and Bihar Federations besides visiting
a few other places in other Federations.
Prof. H. I*. Hakim spoke at all the Bombay
Lodges besides touring in the Kerala,
Karnataka and Gujarat Federations and
visiting sonic places in Maharashtra.
Miss Jeanne Dumas gave a large number
of lectures at Lodges in Delhi, Calcutta,
Uttar Pradesh. Bihar. Tamil, Kerala and
Telugu Federations. Sri S. G. Venkata-
ramanan toured extensively in the Tamil
and Kerala Federations, visiting a large
number of places in each Federation and
also visited Lodges in Madras, Mangalore
and some other cities. Sri Ram Jivan
Sinha made a tour of Madhya Pradesh
and visited Allahabad, besides doing
work in his own Federation. Dr. G. R.
Phansalkar visited Lodges in Uttar
Pradesh and also Indore and Poona.
Lectures were also given in most places
under the auspices of other suitable
organizations. Some of the National
Lecturers have sent detailed reports and
helpful suggestions.

Besides the National Lecturers, there
have been a number of other workers w ho
have travelled and spoken at various
places. We arc grateful to all of them.
Here I would like to mention particularly
Mr. C. D. T. Shores, who in spite of
his age and many inconveniences, visited
a number of places in the Telugu area,
where he lived and worked before retire¬
ment.

Among those who travelled and spoke,
I also include myself. 1 visited a number

of places in Utkal and Telugu Federations
besides Allahabad, Calcutta, Hyderabad
and some other cities. 1 also presided over
the Federation conferences held at Salem
in the Tamil Federation. Anakapallc in
the Telugu Fedcraton. Hiriyur in the
Karnataka Federation and Alleppcy in the
Kerala Federation, and participated in
the joint conference of M.P.-Rajasthan and
U.P. Federations held at Panna, over
which the International President, Sri N.
Sri Ram presided. His presence there,
the beauty of the region, and the arrange¬
ments made by Princess Chandrakumari
of Panna. all lent a charm to the gathering.
Recently I have been to Bombay to
preside over the conference there and
visited Ujjain, Indore and Ratlani.

Study and Training camps and other
conferences were also arranged as usual.
The International President presided over
the South Indian conference at Adyar
which was organized by Bro. H. E.
Hakim. This was followed by the
Workers’ Training camp which is held
every summer, at Adyar. The Training
camp at Bhowali in the Himalayas has
also become a regular feature of Thcoso-
phical life in the summer. This year it
was conducted by Bro. M. Krishnama¬
charyulu. taking Dr. Annie Besant’s A
Study in Consciousness and the Yoga
Sutras as the texts for study. A second
camp in Bhowali was conducted by Bro.
R. P. Agrawala in Hindi, based on A
Textbook of Theosophy.

A special feature of the year was a
Theosophy Science Seminar organized by
the Committee for Moral and Altruistic
Education through science, which was
appointed by the Theosophy Science
group. This seminar was planned in
view of Mr. Fritz Kunz’s visit to India
and took place in Adyar. Mr. Kunz
gave a number of lectures and demonstra¬
tions to the participants, who included
members from various parts of India

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

with a scientific background or interest.
Articles emanating from these sessions
formed the content of the June 1971 issue
of The Theosophical Review. The com¬
mittee mentioned above has the object
of bringing about a synthesis between
science and sprituality through developing
a suitable philosophy of education and
evolving a syllabus of study and a code
of ethics based on this philosophy. Sri
M. S. Prasad is the co-ordinator of the
committee.

Besides the training camps I have
mentioned, there were several other camps
organized by the Federations. The
Secretary of the Tclugu Federation reports
that they had fourteen camps, besides
regional conferences and inter-lodge
meetings. Gujarat had three camps and
the Tamil Federation two. I am unable
to mention others as no reports have been
received yet from some of the Federations.

Here I might mention that the General
Secretary of the Indian Section has to
submit a printed report to the members
of the Indian Section Council by the
middle of December each year. Suf¬
ficient time is needed after the report
has been passed by the Executive Com¬
mittee of the Section to print it along
with the accounts and send it to the
Council members. The late arrival of
some Federation reports and the scanty
nature of their contents do not make it
easy to draft the General Secretary's
report.

The Publicity Committee of the Section
of which Dr. C. V. Agarwal is the Sec¬
retary, has been carrying on a regular
correspondence with all newer Lodges,
at present numbering 72. Suggestions
and information on formulating programs
and on other matters have been sent
out. A large number of publicity leaflets
have been distributed. The work has
naturally to be carried on in English from
the Section Headquarters so as to benefit

all regions of the country. Attempts arc
however being made to organize some
publicity work in regional languages.

The committee keeps a small book bank
consisting of old books donated by
members, as well as new books which
have been purchased. Books arc being
given as gifts to Lodges which carry on
regular study and arc in genuine need of
books.

With the assistance of the Indian
Section, Practical Occultism by H. P.
Blavatsky has been translated into both
Tclugu and Bengali. The publication
of the Bengali translation is being pro¬
ceeded with and will be financed by the
donation given by the Canadian Section.

A history of the Theosophical Society
in Bengali entitled Theosophical Society
Itihas by Sri Taresh Ranjan Mitra has
also been published during the year.

Srimati Malati Pandya has completely
revised and prepared for publication an
old Hindi translation of The Ancient
Wisdom by Dr. Annie Besant and it is
hoped to bring it out soon with help
from the Non-English Publication Loan
Fund.

The Indian Bookshop has published
a short Hindi glossary of Theosophical
terms as a preliminary attempt to
standardize terminology. Hindi transla¬
tions of several Theosophical books have
been made and the MSS. arc being ex¬
amined. The second edition of Knowledge
and Wisdom by Sri N. Sri Ram has also
been brought out by the Bookshop.
The Manager of the Bookshop, Sri R. P.
Agrawala, reports that advertisements
arc regularly being inserted in suitable
periodicals and he hopes that the sale
of books will go up in the near future.

The Tclugu Federation has initiated a
new scheme to familiarize students with
simple Theosophical books. Students
were oflfered the opportunity of participat¬
ing in a competition in which they had

INDIA

to submit commentaries on At the Feet
of the Master. As the response was very
encouraging and students from a number
of colleges and schools took part. In
His Name by C. Jinarajadasa has been
prescribed for a second competition.

The Thcsophieal Order of Service as
well as New Life for India groups have
collected a large number of clothes,
medicines, utensils, etc., and a consider¬
able amount of money for the relief of
refugees from Bangla Dcsh who now
number several millions. The Director
of the Thcosophical Order of Service in
India, Sri Shambhu Dayal, reports that
3.000 saris, dhotis and shirts. 700 utensils
and a very large number of old clothes
have been distributed. Very generous
aid has been received from Australia in
the form of 3.500 blankets and more
than Rs. 50,000. Further cheques arc
coming in. The funds arc being used to
buy essential things for distribution.

In Madras both the Theosophical Order
of Service and New Life for India acted
as agents in South Madras for the official
committee appointed to help the refugees.
About Rs. 25,000 and a large consignment
of clothes and other essential stuffs were
sent by the allied organizationsof theThco-
sophical Society including those above-
mentioned and the Co-Masonic Order.

From Narasapur in Andhra about
4,000 clothes were sent for the refugees
by the Thcosophical Order of Service.
It is possible in my report to mention
only some part of the total work done
but it is sufficient to give some idea of
the service rendered.

Thcosophical Order of Service groups
in different parts of India have also carried
on their regular activities apart from the
work done for the Bangla Dcsh refugees.
These activities include the running of
free homeopathic dispensaries, gifts of
clothes to the poor, visits to hospitals,
care of the destitute, etc.

A young group of New Life for India
has been formed in the Vivckananda
College at Madras and the students
organized an exhibition to promote the
principles of the movement, during the
Silver Jubilee celebrations of the College,
which was attended by a large number of
people. It is hoped that young people
in other colleges will also enlist themselves
in this work of elevating the moral and
ethical atmosphere of India.

Last year I had reported the donation
of Rs. 46.300 by Bro. D. M. Dabhoiwala
and others to form the Jamshed Nusscr-
wanji Mehta Fund. Further donations
have been received from him during this
year so that the Fund now stands at
Rs. 60.000

Bro. S. T. Kaliappan of the Tamil
Federation has donated to the Indian
Section land and a building at Scllappan-
palayam in the Coimbatore District for
the benefit of the Lodge there.

Dr. C. V. Agarwal has created a Fund
of about Rs. 9,700 the interest from which
is meant to be used for Thcosophical
work under certain provisions.

A noteworthy gift was from a Spanish
visitor, who is not a member of the
Thcosophical Society, but who after a
stay at the Indian Section Headquarters
gave Rs. 6.000 towards making concrete
roads in the Headquarters compound.
Srimati Malati Pandya, the daughter of
Sri Pandya Baijnath, also gave about
Rs. 3.000 to make concrete roads and
paths. The concreting has made a great
difference to the compound as one can
now walk within it without the in¬
convenience of mud and slush even
during the monsoon.

We arc extremely grateful to all the
above-mentioned donors, as well as to all
the others who have contributed their mite
for the work of the Section.

At the Section Headquarters, with the
passing away of Bro. S. N. Chowdhary,

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

the house occupied by him has reverted
to the use of the Section according to the
decree pronounced by the court. The
court concerned has also awarded to the
Section the amount due from Sri Rohit
Mehta for many years as arrears of rent
for the Vasanta Vastu Bhandar.

The Bharat Samaj Temple at Varanasi
has been renovated and enclosed, so as
to preserve the sanctity of the precincts.
Dr. G. R. Phansalkar has taken a keen
interest in this work and made the neces¬
sary collections.

As per the decision of the Indian
Section Council, property committees
have been formed in a number of Federa¬
tions. They are in the process of collect¬
ing full information regarding properties,
obtaining blue prints, etc. We hope that
when this preliminary work is finished it
will be possible to go into other questions
and ensure the maintenance and use of
T. S. properties for T. S. purposes.

The membership of the Section now
stands at 7,710 showing an increase of
241. The Lodges and Centres number
327 and 34 respectively. In addition
there are 123 Lodges and 10 Centres with
less than the required number of members.
The Kerala Federation tops the list of
gains, with an increase of 68 members.
The Karnataka, Tamil and U. P. Federa¬
tions have gained 48, 46 and 46 members

respectively. It is hoped that as member¬
ship rises there will be a corresponding
enhancement in the interest felt in Theo¬
sophy and the ardour shown in living a
Thcosophical life.

! am happy to say that Bro. P. N.
Chakraborti of the Bengal Federation
has joined the band of workers at Varanasi
and has been taking part in the work in
different ways. Bro. K. L. Mehrotra is
also an additional helper at Headquarters
whom we have been glad to have.

In concluding I would like to lay stress
on the fact that only to the extent that
every individual member makes Theo¬
sophy a living power in his life can the
Theosophical Society fulfil its purpose.
There arc many societies where religion,
philosophy, science or the social sciences
arc being intensively studied. The Thco¬
sophical Society should be distinguished
by the fact that what its members study,
they earnestly endeavour to live. In
such living is the greatest help and inspi¬
ration to others. Without the right
quality of life all our activities would
come to nought. So let us set our feet
on the way to becoming true Theosophists
and not be content with being mere
members of the Society.

Radha Burnier.

GeneraI Secretary.

AUSTRALIA

In presenting the annual report for the
year ended 30th September, 1971, I am
happy to begin with Miss Helen Zahara’s
lecture tour. It was a great pleasure to
welcome her back to Australia, as our guest
speaker at Convention and to visit lodges
in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide,
Perth, Toowoomba, Newcastle. Canberra
and the group in Albury. Although her

stay in Australia was short, only from
February to April, Miss Zahara’s lectures
were well attended throughout and much
appreciated.

Convention .—Held at the Education
Department's residential camp at Point
Peron, a seaside resort near Perth in
Western Australia, Convention was the
third residential one in that State with

AUSTRALIA

Perth Lodge as the kind host. About
100 members participated, including a
good contingent travelling the long way
across the continent from the Eastern
Australian lodges. We were fortunate
to have with us also the International
Vice-President, Mr. J. S. Perkins and
Mrs. Perkins, on their way over from
Adyar to Sydney. Other overseas visitors
were Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Heintz of Ojai
Lodge. California and Mrs. S. L. Salbert
of New York, U.S.A.; these members
also visited lodges around Australia.

Mr. Perkins gave an inspiring talk at
Convention, and he and Mrs. Perkins
contributed to various sessions of the
program.

Miss Zahara's first address, entitled
“ The Doctrine of the Heart ” was most
appropriate to the theme of Convention
“ Living from the Centre She also gave
two illustrated talks, one being a trave¬
logue of her journey through Russia to
India. Miss Zahara delivered the Con¬
vention Public Lecture in Perth before
an appreciative audience. Drawing on
her wide international experience, includ¬
ing for a number of years head of the
Department of Education of the American
Section, she introduced and directed
several group programs and discussion
methods, which since Convention, have
been repeated and successfully tried out
in lodges around Australia. Amongst
them were a Meditation Study Course
and group study on The Secret Doctrine.

One innovation was the Blavatsky
Lecture given by Phillip Hampson. winner
of the competition sponsored by Mr. and
Mrs. Wade, to encourage young mem¬
bers to study The Secret Doctrine . and
share their results in a prepared talk to
members.

The Theosophical Order of Service
presented a very full and interesting
program on ecology, and the Theoso¬
phical Research Session included papers
7

on cosmology, education and para-psy¬
chology.

Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Hodson .—
Before leaving Australia early in January,
Mr. Hodson recorded 24 radio broadcasts
under the title “The Seminar of the Air”,
a shortened presentation of the public
seminar on Theosophy which he had
previously conducted in Australian
Lodges. The radio broadcasts over Sta¬
tion 2 GB in Sydney proved very popular
and free copies of the scripts were made
available to many enquirers. In October
1970 Mr. Hodson gave a series of public
lectures on Yoga in Sydney.

Other Visits. —Mr. John Coats, last
year’s visiting lecturer, concluded his
Australian tour with visits to Adelaide
and Perth Lodge in October 1970. While
in Adelaide he gave several talks during
the annual weekend seminar which the
lodge held early in October.

Mr. Norman Hankin of Sydney spoke
to members in Melbourne and Peace
Lodges during a visit to Victoria in early
October.

Also in October I met with members
in Canberra, Albury and Melbourne,
and, accompanying Miss Zahara. visited
Newcastle and Canberra again in February
and March. In preparation for the 1972
Convention I went to Launceston and
Hobart at the end of May and returning
from Tasmania, met with the Melbourne
Quorum of the Executive Commitec.

Lodges. —Lodges now number 18. No
doubt the most important event during
the year was the founding of a lodge in
Australia’s capital city, Canberra. Al¬
though a theosophical study group had
met there regularly since 1964. due to
the continual movement of population it
has always been difficult to maintain
steady activities in Canberra. In recent
years several members from different
places have settled more or less perma¬
nently in Canberra, and this, together

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

with some local additions in membership,
has made it possible to Ibrm a lodge last
July.

All small lodges would welcome support
from their larger sister-lodges in Australia.
This is particularly the case in North
Queensland where lodges are very isolated,
but also in Western Australia where
Perth’s two small suburban lodges find
the struggle for existence tough. The
same goes for Peace Lodge, which meets
in a suburb of Melbourne, and Mosman
Lodge in Sydney, which has been inactive
because of lack of support from its few
members. The group in Albury. N.S.W.,
has carried on regular meetings, using
mostly tape lectures.

Hobart Lodge has undergone some re¬
organization and has moved its meeting
place into the centre of the city. The
lodge is in process of re-cataloguing its
library which is now more easily acces¬
sible to the public. It is pleasing to note
that several new members have joined the
lodge during the year. With the forth¬
coming Convention in Tasmania in 1972,
new impetus will be given to the work
in Hobart and Launceston.

Adelaide Lodge continued to increase
its membership, mainly as a result of its
well-run bookshop and library, but also
due to a diversification of its meetings.
There are some activities going on almost
every day of the week.

Brisbane Lodge has also experimented
with new approaches to its meetings most
of which are open to the public. The
Reid Art Gallery, under the operation
of the lodge, has attracted about 3.000
visitors during the year, a number of
whom were introduced to the library
and book depot and to the lodge’s other
activities.

In Melbourne Lodge the rise in member¬
ship has continued and its bookshop and
library arc well patronized. The Theo-
sophical Society received a lot of publicity

through the city square controversy
which involves the Melbourne T.S. Build¬
ing in Collins Street.

In response to Newcastle Lodge’s
need Blavatsky Lodge in Sydney has sent
a speaker once a month to Newcastle,
accompanied by another member who
helps with enquiries and book sales.
Meetings are held in the Adult Education
Centre and several new members joined
Newcastle Lodge since the beginning of
these monthly visits, the cost of which is
borne by Blavatsky Lodge.

Amongst Blavatsky Lodge’s regular
activities arc monthly meetings of Young
Marrieds. Wednesday lunch-time medi¬
tations. and the Youth Group’s weekly
study meetings, which were recommenced
in August with the aim of fulfilling a real
need for deeper study among the younger
members of the lodge. The Youth Group
in Sydney is also issuing a small publica¬
tion called ‘ Movement \ with Peter
Glasson as editor.

The lodge is facing a re-housing problem
in the near future, and steps have been
taken to prepare for the event. In co¬
operation with the Thcosophical Society
in Australia a building committee is
engaged in co-ordinating the planning
for its new premises.

Perth Lodge’s expansion of its book¬
shop has led to the employment on a part-
time basis of a bookshop manager, and the
lodge’s library has noticeably increased
its membership. Perth Lodge also faces
the possibility of making a move, some¬
time in the future, its property being
under an indefinite threat of resumption
by the Government. A planning com¬
mittee has been set up.

The Hospice, home for 20 elderly ladies
in Brisbane, and the McIntyre Centre for
14 Senior Citizens in Sydney, may soon
be joined by a similar project in Mel¬
bourne, which is being planned by Mel¬
bourne Lodge. Both the Hospice, which

AUSTRALIA

has been run expertly by The Thcosophica!
Order of Service in Brisbane, and the
McIntyre Centre, under the administration
of Mr. Len Wade and his band of helpers,
are fulfilling a real need in the community
and amongst elderly members by providing
a comfortable home and companionship
for them.

Service to Lodges .—Of the facilities
available from the national headquarters,
publicity leaflets were most in demand,
over 35,000 having been supplied to lodges
for distribution. The tape library was
also useful and popular, and 69 tapes
were loaned to lodges and groups. 14
new lecture tapes, comprising 26 pro¬
grams were added to the library bring¬
ing the total to 207 different talks,
study and special programs, some of
which arc audio-visual.

The film ‘ How Many Life Times?’ was
shown to audiences in Brisbane. Mel¬
bourne, Tasmania. Newcastle and Sydney.
In Tasmania it was also lent to several
schools, and students obviously enjoyed
this beautiful award-winning film and
showed much interest in the subject.

A new “ Secret Doctrine ” Reading
Course and a Meditation Study Course,
the former prepared by the English
Section and the latter by the American
Section, arc among the study aids offered
by the national headquarters, and a total
of 154 copies of these and other study
courses have been sent to lodges. We
arc very grateful to the English and
American Sections for sharing their study
material with us.

As in previous years my monthly
** Contact Letter ” to Lodge Presidents
has shared information and various
announcements with the lodges. The
Adyar Newsletter was sent to all lodges
in Australia.

Headquarters Staff .—While our work
has steadily increased over the years the
extra load was carried by the same number

of staff until April, when we were joined
by Miss Marion Caws who helps us on a
part-time basis. One cannot adequately
describe what it means to have a team
of dedicated colleagues efficiently working
together. In a time when everyone is
already taxed to the limit with duties,
it is not always easy to cope with the extra
stress mainly caused through the sale of
Savoy House and its following implica¬
tions. But we are coping all right and
the admirable support 1 received from
my close associates in the office. Mrs.
Gladys MacCartie, Mrs. Gcrda Vanags,
Miss Marion Caws and the National
Treasurer, Mr. David Esplin, are deeply
appreciated. Although not a member of
the staff, Mr. Norman Hankin’s assistance
is also gratefully recognized.

In August Mrs. Gcrda Vanags, after
4) years continued service in the National
Headquarters’ office, regretfully found it
necessary to leave us to seek a higher-
paid position. She will continue to be
well-loved and remembered by all who
worked with her and know her throughout
the lodges and membership. Her place
was taken by Miss Judith Fyfe, who
during the last months has become a
valued member of the team, and I am
very grateful to Miss Fyfe for accepting
the appointment on the staff.

Under the national Rules I was required
to seek endorsement by all lodges to
serve for a fourth consecutive term as
General Secretary. The endorsement
having been given, I was elected at
Convention for a fourth and final term
which ends in April 1973.

Membership .—The membership stood
at 1793 on September 30, 1971. This is
an increase of 138 compared with last
year, 307 new members having joined
during the year.

The many additions in membership,
changes of addresses and other adjust¬
ments have kept our membership

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

department in the National Headquarters
very busy. Many thanks go to Mr. W.
McKenzie of Sydney who has continued
to inscribe Diplomas for new members.
Although many names pass through our
hands, the indexing, signing of diplomas
and the sending of regular monthly
letters to new members for the first 18
months of their membership, give us
only a limited personal contact with our
new brothers. But whilst it is not
possible to get to know everyone as one
would wish in a movement such as ours,
the fact that we all belong to the Thcoso-
phical Society links us together. On the
few occasions of my visits to lodges or at
Convention, there is an opportunity of
renewing and strengthening that link.
For several years Biavatsky Lodge in
Sydney has observed a very nice custom
of inviting new members to social after¬
noons at The Manor to meet the Lodge
Executive Committee members and the
President as well as myself. Depending
on the number of members who have
joined, such an afternoon is arranged a
few times during the year. This practice
is recommended particularly to our large
lodges.

Through death we have lost 28 members,
amongst them Mr. Joe Pang Way, a well-
loved brother, who has worked untiringly
for the cause of Theosophy in North
Queensland, Mr. D. C. Dickson, a well-
known member of Melbourne Lodge,
and in Western Australia, Miss E. Wcick-
hardt. Mrs. E. Williams. Mrs. D. Atkinson
and Mr. David Ewart, who had been a
member for more than 70 years.

Journal .—During the year the usual
6 issues of Theosophy in Australia
have been published with a variety of
articles and contributions from members
in Australia and some from overseas.
We are indebted to Mr. David Esplin and,
since ApriL also to Miss Caws for the main
part of the editorial task. As publishing

costs have risen sharply over the past
years and in order to comply with postal
regulations for bulk postage of the Journal,
the membership contribution for the
magazine had to be increased as from
April 1971. A Notice of Motion passed
at Convention agreed to an increase of
membership dues, which includes the
subscription for the magazine.

Advertising .—Monthly advertisements
in The Australian were continued, like¬
wise in The Bulletin at six-weekly intervals,
and in The Australian Journal of Adult
Education which appears three times per
year. Numerous requests for informa¬
tion about Theosophy and the Society
have been received. some from
countries in South East Asia. 57 en¬
quirers have subsequently subscribed to
the Correspondence Course, “ Theosophy
Key to Understanding ”, and as a result
several subscribers have become members
of lodges or have joined their libraries.
An experiment of advertising in the Sunday
edition of The Australian did not prove
successful and was discontinued. A
number of letters were sent in reply to en¬
quiries received from State Penitentiaries,
this being an avenue of work which
perhaps warrants more of our efforts.
Another aspect of advertising is through
placing thcosophical books in Public
Libraries. This work was carried out on
a small scale.

Broadcasting .—The Sunday night 15
minute thcosophical broadcasts over
Station 2 C1B Sydney were prcs:nted
throughout the year. As previously re¬
ported. Mr. G. Hodson’s ** Seminar of
the Air” was most helpful and received
much notice from the listening public.
Miss Zahara gave two radio interviews
during her visit to Sydney; she was also
interviewed on television in Brisbane.
I would like to thank members of the
radio committee, consisting of Miss F.
Beaufoy, Mr. F. W. Houstone, Miss

AUSTRALIA

M. Caws and Mr. D. Esplin, for their
advice and co-operation.

Quest Book Agency .—The Agency,
which operates under the Thcosophical
Foundation Ply. Ltd., and is capably
managed by Miss Doris Williamson, has
further expanded its activities. It distrib¬
uted books published by Stuart and
Watkins (now Robinson and Watkins),
and by The Theosophical Publishing
House, both of London, as well as the
Quest Books published by T. P. H.,
Wheaton, U. S. A. Demand has been
maintained at a steady level from trade
customers and a feature has been the
increasing cash sales by mail order to
country areas throughout Australia.

Several interesting new Quest Books
have become available and revised cata¬
logues have been distributed by way of
a large mailing list. A total of 6,837
books, comprising 3,947 Quest Books,
1,320 Robinson and Watkins, and 1,570
T. P. H. London publications were sold
to 112 trade customers in Australia and
New Zealand as well as to lodges and
groups. Some of the smaller lodges are
now carrying stocks of Quest Books which
has helped to stimulate interest in these
centres.

Mrs. Shirley Miller of Brisbane and Mrs.
Elsie Henderson of Canberra, have very
kindly contacted booksellers in their areas,
and it would be appreciated if members
in other centres would undertake to do
likewise. The Quest Books arc proving
of great value in introducing thcosophical
ideas, and the opportunity for service is
open to those with ability and a little
time to spare.

The highlight of the year was Miss
Zahara’s visit, who gave us an interesting
insight into the many activities at Wheaton,
where the Quest Books arc published.
Her visit afforded us, and particularly
lodge bookshop managers, the chance to
discuss various matters with her.

Miss Williamson’s excellent manage¬
ment of the Agency is deeply appreciated.

The Theosophical Order of Service .—
Over the past twelve months, the work
of the T.O.S. in Australia has been
greatly enhanced by the enthusiastic co¬
operation of T.O.S. groups and lodges
throughout the country. Their valuable
assistance has led to effective contributions
in cash and kind to our overseas projects,
namely: The Oleott Schools in Adyar, the
Woman’s Cooperative Cottage Industries
in Kotagiri, and the work of the T.O.S.
in India for the relief of East Pakistani
refugees in India, as well as the Free
School and Orphanage run by Thcoso-
phists in Vict-Nam. Contributions have
augmented the assistance given to the
T.O.S. by AUSTCARE (Australian Care
for Refugees).

It has also been our responsibility
as a member-body of AUSTCARE to
assist its programs and serve on the State
representative committees, organizing
publicity and co-operating in its door-
knock appeals, from which we receive
I % of the collections. Our efforts have
been appreciated.

The T.O.S. session at Convention
sparked off a wonderful response from
members interested in the environmental
problems, and much closer co-operation
is now achieved for our theosophical
approach—both within and outside the
T.O.S., by members already working
with other groups, or on special
committees.

The decision to produce a quarterly
national T.O.S. newsletter has given us
opportunity to find ways of working to¬
gether, and inspiring each other in the
many fields of work the T.O.S. can do,
including ecological programs. It has
already been received with interest by
our friends overseas. Reports arc being
sent to the newly formed international
T.O.S. Information Centre at Adyar.

THE REPOR1 OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Throughout Australia, members of the
T.O.S. are actively working with such
organizations as Wild Life Preservation,
Amnesty International, The United
Nations Association of Australia,
UNICEF, Save the Children Fund, and
Animal Welfare organizations, as well
as a number of social welfare groups
assisting the underprivileged locally,
amongst them pensioners. Aborigines,
migrants and handicapped members of
our community. Work for the sick and
lonely is not forgotten, as seen in the report
presented at Convention. The diversity
of the programs undertaken whenever
a special need can be met, is only limited
by the number of members wishing to
dedicate their time and energy to practical
Theosophy. New members arc always
welcome.

International .—The Adyar Australia
Fund stood at $21,736.93 on 30th Sep¬
tember, 1971. Its income for the year
amounted to $1,100.81. The Fund was
set up in 1966, with its capital invested in
Australia, earnings of which arc made
available for the maintenance of the
International Headquarters in Adyar.
Collections for Adyar Day from lodges
and members, including a national contri¬
bution. and for the Olcott School and for
the Felix Layton Rice fund were sent to
Adyar.

The Non-English Publications Loan
Fund collected S989.90, including a
national contribution of $300, which was
transmitted to the Fund invested in U.S.A.

On request from the Federation of
Indonesian Theosophists, a set of the
illustrated study course, “ Man in the
Universe" by Miss H. Zahara was loaned
to them. Several Quest Books were also
presented to Indonesia. The Indo-Pacific
Fund gave a donation of SU.S. 400 as a
contribution to the Indonesian Federation
of Theosophists, which has enabled the
members to purchase a much needed
typewriter and a duplication machine.

Scripts and tapes of 13 and 15 of Mr.
Hodson’s thcosophical broadcasts were
sent respectively to members in Japan
and to the New Zealand Section, and
scripts and publicity leaflets were also
supplied to lodges in Singapore, Malaysia,
Burma. Hong Kong and Saigon.

The film “How Many Life Times?”
was loaned to the New Zealand Section
for its Convention at Christmas time.

Conclusion .—As each plays his or her
part, some performing services while
others receive, until the process is reversed,
some being taught while others teach;
life will allot the parts, but we have to
watch for the opportunities.

We cannot all be in the front lines
and often a great amount of work is
carried out by many unknown hands
behind the scenes. To these unknown
'* toilers " especially, and to all and every
one who helped in the performance of our
task throughout the year, 1 give my
warmest thanks.

Ruth Blringer,
General Secretary.

SWEDEN

Mrs. Madelaine and Mr. Leslie Lcslie-
Smith came to Sweden for a very much
appreciated lecture tour of ten days, the
visit being part of a round trip of four
weeks from the middle of April including
Denmark. Norway and Finland as well.
Our guests went to five places in Sweden
and talked to the public on some occasions
and to members. Their visit was very
valuable for the work here and they gave
us many good ideas to go on with, espe¬
cially with regard to Theosophical points
of view as to the present situation in
society and in the world.

A Swedish Summer School was held
during the first week of July 1971 at a
very appropriate and beautiful place on
the cast coast, south of Stockholm. We
were very happy to have with us the
President, Mr. N. Sri Ram. and also
Mr. John Coats from England. The
key-note of the summer-school was
“ Man’s Possibilities of Development—
Individual and Society”, and this theme
was treated under different titles in lectures
by our two guest-speakers and others, in
shorter talks and in panel discussions.
There were five parallel study groups,
which dealt with ” Meditation and Yoga ”,
“ Life after Death?”. "The Significance
of Symbols ” and other subjects. There
were about 85 participants, members and
sympathizers, many of them in the age
group of 20-25 years. We were glad to
have ten members from Finland at the
Summer School in addition to some from
Denmark and Norway. The Summer
School was considered by all present to be
a very happy gathering, for which the note
struck by Mr. N. Sri Ram was felt to
be of great importance.

Another visitor from abroad was Mr.
Sten von Krusenstierna from Sydney.

Australia, who, being of Swedish origin,
told us in Swedish about the Theosophical
work in the Australian Section.

We have met with an increasing interest
in Theosophy by younger people and.
among other things, the Vice General
Secretary, Mrs. Barbro Melander. visited,
on invitation, two schools for adult
education of younger people. This and
other circumstances has caused a certain
influx of young people into the section.
During the last year about 20 people in
the age group around 20 years have joined
the Society.

The main interest among the younger
generation which comes into contact
with Theosophy seems to be in the field
of yoga and meditation, and how to find
a deeper basis of one’s own, in contrast
to all the knowledge and methods of the
intellect given and practised at schools
and universities.

The activities of the bookshop (much
is sold by mail) and the lending library
arc going on steadily, and so is the
magazine Teosofi i .Worden which is
in common for Denmark. Norway and
Sweden. A new pamphlet, on the Race
Question, has been issued.

The majority of the work in the Section
is going on in the lodges. During the
year there has been regular work in nine
lodges, situated in six different places,
but in September 1971 one of the lodges
in Stockholm. " Graalsdkarna ”, was
closed so there arc now eight active
lodges. In all there are eleven lodges.
As to the membership of the section 47
new members have joined and 59 have
left including lapsings. There are now
316 members.

Curt Berg,

General Secretary.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

NEW ZEALAND

In company with many other countries
this year. New Zealand has further wit¬
nessed the failure of a materialistic
orientation to bring stability and up-
liftmcnt to her people. Industrial unrest,
galloping inflation and disillusionment
among people have again disclosed the
inability of orthodoxy to bring to humanity
the upliftment and orderly expansion for
which it was designed.

Said H. P. B., “The gradual assimila¬
tion by mankind of great spiritual truths
will alone revolutionize the face of civiliza¬
tion and ultimately result in a far more
effective panacea for evil than the mere
tinkering of superficial misery.*'

Our books, magazine and lecturers
this year have stressed that while psycho¬
logists arc today encouraging deeper meta¬
physical thought, physiology is still pulling
towards the materialistic. The time has
arrived when physicists must penetrate
beyond the observable into the unseen—
the occult—to find answers to their dilem¬
mas. This applies directly to the four
scientific steps

1. The appreciation of the problem.

2. The formation of a hypothesis.

3. The deductive development of the
hypothesis.

4. The process of verification.

The official recognition of parapsycho¬
logy this year by scientific associations is
an encouraging sign as well as the un¬
official but successful experiments in
E.S.P. from the moon by two of the
astronauts. E. Lester Smith of our
London Research Centre reported that
Sir Peter Medawar, F.R.S.. Director
of the National Institute for Medical
Research has just written a book. Induc¬
tion and Intuition in Scientific Thought.

We have reiterated that the vacuum or
loss of anchorage occasioned by world¬
wide rejection of unscientific dogmas and

a dissatisfaction with purely materialistic
science must be filled with the spiritual
science of Theosophy.

“ The greatest need, both in the East
and in the West, is that we perceive the
spiritual stature of man, that he is a
spirit emanating from the mind of God,
bringing with him unique qualities. That
is the important thing, because the danger
of the world is not in the progress of the
outer and material aspects of life. These
may have their dangers, but the great
danger lies not in any of the things that
afTect the life of man at the lower level,
but in losing sight of the dignity of man
as a spirit incarnate. That realization
is the only thing that is going to give ls
the understanding of other people, other
purposes, other races, and all also which
alone can bring peace and happiness to
this troubled world.*’ Phoebe D. Bendit.

Our Lodges with their special seminars
on Theosophy, lectures and widespread
publicity. supported by dedicated
members, effectively helped to promote
this message. In the final result, it was
the effort of each individual member which
was all important.

Section Headquarters increased by ten¬
fold its distribution to Lodges of publicity
leaflets and booklets and sent lecturers
regularly, but it was the sincere members
who helped in the distribution, who
phoned friends to remind them of meetings
and provided transport, etc., who really
produced the fine result, and our apprecia¬
tion goes to them.

Lecturers .—Whilst last year our Inter¬
national President visited New Zealand
and our International Vice-President and
his wife have just arrived for a tour of
both Islands and to be Guest Lecturers
at our 75th Anniversary Celebrations,
our local lecturers this year have rendered

NEW ZEALAND

signal service to the Lodges and public
alike.

National Lecturer, Leslie P. Hardy, B.A.,
visited every Lodge except Suva. Some
have also covered both Islands with fresh
talks and presentations for public and
members, whilst others—businessmen with
limited time—have lectured within a
radius of a 100 miles or so of their home
towns. Lodge Lecturers and Officers
have done extensive research work to
make seminars and gatherings up-to-date
and inspiring. To all these goes our deep
gratitude.

The GeneraI Secretary has given public
lectures for all our Lodges twice this year
with some talks to members. He was
Opening Speaker for two of the Seminars
held at the H.P.B. Lodge. Auckland.
Attendances have been above previous
years in most centres and reflect the
efficiency of those who put time and
efTort into ensuring good meetings.

The general practice now of placing
paper on each chair, on which visitors
leave their names and addresses is making
Lodge mailing lists more effective and
saving expensive advertising on many
occasions.

Advertising this year was spread between
sales of Quest books, encouraging sub¬
scriptions to our Magazine Theosophy in
New Zealand, and inviting the public to
write in for our free booklet for beginners,
Introducing Theosophy. A number of
advertisements were scheduled to coincide
with visiting lecturers and were instru¬
mental in increasing attendances.

S992.14 was spent on advertising and
propaganda by Section Headquarters in
addition to substantial sums by the Lodges.

575 copies of Introducing Theosophy
were distributed, also 1000 follow-up
letters to enquirers and 1,486 monthly
leaflets to new members.

7500 leaflets from America and reprints
from Australia have been supplied free
8

of charge by Headquarters and used most
effectively by Lodges. The tremendous
success of our American Section not only
keeps us humble but also challenges us to
greater effort year by year to penetrate
and permeate every thinking mind in
New Zealand to imbue it with a sense
of dedication to the building of a new
civilization on the shores of the Pacific.
It is one of our privileges in this time
and age.

Theosophy in New Zealand has again
increased its circulation at home and
abroad. Many who first became sub¬
scribers afterwards joined the Society.
The Section's Theme for the year—
“ Theosophy the Hope of Modern Man "
—has been driven home wherever possible
with up-to-date pronouncements in science,
philosophy and occultism.

The gift subscription of S1.00 a year
for a friend has again resulted in extra
subscribers.

We do appreciate the research covering
an extensive range of overseas journals,
both general and occult, undertaken by
our Editor.

Section Library continues to serve the
country members and those unable to
call at Lodge Libraries. Under capable
leadership, it has been re-situated in
larger offices and with extra steel cabinets,
at Section Headquarters.

Tapes. —Lodges are appreciative of the
efficiency of our Tape Librarian in check¬
ing all tapes before despatch. Preference
is being given to the 35-40 minute tapes
or even shorter ones to allow more time
for discussion.

As a gift from the Australian Section
we have just received tapes of 15 broad¬
casts by Geoffrey Hodson from radio
station 2GB Sydney. These, together
with the National Network Broadcast
“ 1 Believe ” by the General Secretary, arc
being transferred into “ Talking Books ”
by the Blind Institute for the use of their

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

members. The tapes will be available
to Lodges.

Youth Work .—In Auckland, the Y.T.s
at H.P.B. Lodge are extending their
influence and assisting individually in
may Lodge activities. Young people
especially in the University towns arc
displaying more interest in the occult,
approaching Life's problems with open
minds devoid of the preconceived pre¬
judices of earlier years. This is very
noticeable.

T. O. S .—The Arundale Centre at
Orewa Beach is a credit to all concerned
and has become a well established centre
of Thcosophical activity.

Iona Flats continues to look after many
older workers. An investigation is being
made into the erection of a Rest Home
for those needing greater attention and
also a “ Continuing Care ” provision for
the “ whole-of-life ” for older workers.

The Dunedin T.O.S. continues its
effective work for Animal Welfare and
health and has earned deep respect in
the city.

Finances continue to cover our annual
requirements, allowing us to expand the
work despite heavy increases in printing
costs, postage and stationery during the
year. The Voluntary Fund is the main¬
stay of the work on a Dominion-wide
basis and has provided S9I7.89 this
year against a budget of S800.

Small or large, your contributions do
make it possible to bring the transforming
truths of the Ageless Wisdom to people
in need and to extend the work of the
Masters in this land.

legacies total SI24.00 being the
balance from the David Mackay Estate,
S74.00 and the J. Murray Estate, S50.00.

Our special thanks go to all who
remember this essential work in their wills
and by gifts. Also great credit goes to
our Section Treasurer, Neill Edgar. A.C.A.,
for his untiring effort, not only on finance

and investment, but also in inspiring and
drafting most of our advertising campaigns
each year. Constitution-wise, he also
keeps us up to date.

Membership .—There has been a total
number of incoming members of 90,
and a loss of 68, giving an overall increase
of 22.

Donations consisted of Adyar Fund,
SI72.92; Olcott Harijan Free Schools,
SI60.00; Tibetan Refugees Children's
Appeal. S 70.00; Non-English Publications
Loan Fund, S25.00; Adyar Century
Fund, S309.00.

Called to higher service during the year.
21 members of the Section passed away
during the year.

The Mason Foundation is operating
effectively, and the Society has received
its first annual allocation from the N.Z.
Insurance Co. Ltd., the Trustees for the
Fund. This has been applied to advertis¬
ing and has proved of considerable value.
It is with deep regret that we record the
passing of Mrs. Dulcia Mason, known
and loved by so many of our members,
and a keen and generous supporter of
the Foundation which bears the name of
her husband, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason,
C. M. G.. Q. C. Your support of this
“ Kern Type ” Foundation can increase
its ability to do in New Zealand the
wonderful work that is being done in
the U. S. A.

Gratitude. —Help, as usual, has been
received from Adyar, Australia. U.S.A.
and other Sections during the year—a
genuine example of world-wide co¬
operation in a mighty Cause. Our own
dedicated Section and Lodge Officers and
personnel, from efficient Asst. General
Secretary to Tea Maker have given
generously of their time and intelligent
effort to make our Society effective, a
force for good in the community. The
Thcosophical Society in New Zealand
is visualized as having a definite role in

NETHERLANDS

the future destiny of our land—to bring
to our people an inner realization of their
Divine origin and destiny and of the
mighty purpose for which they have been
cast—to assist in the formation on the
shores of the Pacific of the Sixth sub-race
and of an era of co-operation, good-will
and unity, which today’s world so des¬
perately needs.

Surely this effort by our members will
bring us back together again and again
in unique companionship as builders of
this mighty civilization—a comforting and
inspiring realization.

“ We arc on the threshold of a new
age,” said Mr. Sri Ram recently, “for
the old is outworn and falling to pieces.
Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, unto
Science what belongs to Science. What
the scientific mind discovers is the observ¬
able. What remains, and that is infinitely
the greater part, belongs to regions
beyond the mind, the world of God’s ideas,
the purest intuitions of man, the creations

of his subjective being. These ideas will
be as stars in a new heaven of humanity
which must be reflected in the new earth
that it will bring into being, an earth of
its own creation. Humanity is an ancient
plant that has seen many seasons. It
is preparing for a new flowering which
will be not a reproduction of the old but
the flowering of a new species evolved
from the old.”

Everything is working to plan. The
Archetypal pattern existed in the Divine
Mind from before the emanation of our
Solar System.

In this glorious plan and work we arc
all privileged to share, and drawing on
our inner spiritual powers of inestimable
will, of all embracing love and Divine
Intelligence we go forward into 1972
w ith our Keynote for the year “ Theosophy
—Universal Truths in Action.”

Brian Dunmngham,
General Secretary.

NETHERLANDS

Our membership again showsa decrease,
of 39 this year but the average age of new
members is lower than before.

Because of the lecture course conducted
by Mr. Geoffrey Hodson. we had no
special summer school, for many members
went to Huizen to participate during this
week. There was also the outstanding
event of the European Congress in Paris,
which nearly 40 members of our Section
attended. We were very glad that our
President Mr. Sri Ram was willing to
give a lecture in Huizen, when he stayed
there for some days on his way to
England.

Convention 1970 was held in October
on the subject “ What arc we doing with

everything we know?" There was a
good discussion but we did not come to
positive answers. In May 1971, a seminar
was held during a long weekend on the
same subject as that of the Congress in
Paris. We had an outstanding lecture
on biology by Mr. Ronald Engclsc, one
of our young members.

Publishing House.— The sales arc
increasing, especially to non-members
and there arc many young readers. We
have a translation of the book The Way
of the Disciple by Clara Codd and have
reprinted Transition by Hampton. The
translation of The Divine Plan is nearly
finished and will go to the printer in a
couple of weeks.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Some of the workshops of the young
members decreased their activities, but
other Groups are more active.

Our Section is still at a low ebb, but
new plans are being made to blow the

coals of our inner fire, to give light and
warmth to our fellow beings.

N. E. V. D. Schoot-Groot,
General Secretary.

FRANCE

Regular work is going on in our Section.
A weekly Course on Theosophy has been
given at our Headquarters in Paris. The
selling of thcosophical books from our
bookshop increased notably, and our
Library attracted as usual numerous
readers. Six books were published by
our Publishing House (Editions Adyar)
among which were reprints of the
2nd and 5th volumes of The Secret
Doctrine in French. We continued to
share our magazine Le Lotus Bleu with
the Belgian and Swiss Sections.

The most important event in the life
of our Section was the 27th European
Congress, the key-note of which was
“ Man s Inner Resources It took place
in our Headquarters, from 9th to 15th
August. About 300 participants came

to Paris from 17 countries. The Presiding
Officer was our world President. N.
Sri Ram, who delivered an inspiring
lecture on “The True Nature of Man".
During the course of this Congress, our
National Convention was held and a new
General Secretary was elected. Dr. Paul
Thorin, who occupied this office for
many years did not stand for re-elec¬
tion.

Some Canadian members who had
recently joined us were transferred to the
Canadian Federation. The total number
of our Lodges is 35. 169 new members

joined us and 145 members left us since
last year, which means an increase of
26 members.

Salomon Lancri,

General Secretary.

ITALY

1971 was an eventful year for the Italian
Section. The 57th Annual Convention
was held at Perugia in May with the
participation of about 70 members. The
Chairman of the European Federation,
Mrs. Claire Wyss and Miss Mary Ander¬
son, the General Secretary of the Swiss
Section were Guest Speakers from abroad.
The Convention, which was organized
by Mr. Fioriti was very interesting and
the participants enjoyed fruitful days in
the peaceful atmosphere of Umbria. The
key theme of the Convention was “ The

Realization of the Self" which was dealt
with by such qualified lecturers as Mrs.
Wyss, Mr. R. Hack, Mr. Fioriti, Mr.
Cusani. Mr. E. Bratina, Mr. G. Valle
and Mr. F. Brunclli, and was followed
by an interesting debate.

This year the new General Secretary of
the Section was elected. It was Mr.
Edoardo Bratina, a member for 35 years
and President of the Lodge at Trieste.

A sad event occurred on the 18th
August with the sudden death of Mr.
Roberto Hack, late General Secretary, in

GERMANY

his 50th year of membership. He was
well-known as a staunch worker for
many years.

The activity of the Groups proceeded
quite regularly in two main directions:
the exposition of the classical Theoso-
phical literature, particularly of H.P.B.;
and occasional lectures and debates on
current problems considered from the
Thcosophical standpoint. Both topics
were much appreciated by the respective
Groups. The Italian Section consists

of 22 Groups and 3 Centers, with 546
members. Some members have passed
away, but there was an increase in total
membership of 26.

One notices an increasing interest
among people in psychological topics,
the problems of pollution and the wel¬
fare of animals. There is also an increased
sale of books on Theosophy and allied
subjects.

Edoardo Bratina,
General Secretary.

GERMANY

In January 1971, Parsifal Lodge in
Berlin celebrated its fifteenth anniversary
with addresses by the leader of the Lodge,
Mr. Karl Struckmann; the leader of
Blavatsky Lodge, Mrs. Bcatc Mattern. and
the leader of Surya Lodge. Mrs. Irnigard
Schcithaucr-Bchrenbcck, both of Berlin;
and the General Secretary, from Hamburg.

Mrs. Hermine Sabetay did a lecture
tour of some of the Lodges in April, for
which they were grateful. There was
no Summer School in Germany this
year, but weekend meetings at Hustedt
and Berlin in May were well attended.
Guests of honour and main speakers in
Berlin were Sandra and Geoffrey Hodson.
The success of this long weekend is
encouraging for next year’s meeting at
the beginning of May.

Fourteen members from Germany in¬
cluding the General Secretary and the
Recording Secretary were happy to meet
our President, Mr. Sri Ram. and many
members at the European Congress in
Paris in August. More than thirty
members from Germany visited the Re¬

gional Summer School of the German¬
speaking countries in Pichl, Austria.

During the European Council Meeting
in Paris the German Section made a
proposal for consideration by the General
Council: to produce a calender for the
year 1975 with coloured photographs of
Adyar. During 1975 in every member’s
home around the world the beauty of
Adyar should radiate through the pictures
and form a daily link with Headquarters
and the thcosophical work.

We arc now preparing for the 70th
Anniversary of the German Section which
will take place from 7-14 August 1972
in Bad Homburg Vor dcr Hohe (near
Frankfurt) in connection with the Euro¬
pean Council Meeting and a Summer
School. We arc happy to invite members
from many countries to attend.

Membership showed a small increase
this year. There was a much greater
increase in the interest shown among
non-members.

Annelifse Stephan,
General Secretary.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

CUBA

National Presidency. —The results of
the election of National President and
Vice-President, for the years 1971-73
which took place on January 17th, 1971,
were: National President, Dr. Dana
Cruz-Bustillo Artigas; National Vice-
President, Senora Carmen Segon Pozos.

The following appointments were made
by the National President: Secretary,
Dr. Luis Manual Coloma Delgado; Office
Secretary, Sr. Alfredo Cabrera Martinez;
Assistant to the President, Sr. Juan
Batista Rodriguez Oliva.

Appointments by the Board of Direc¬
tors were: Treasurer, Sr. Adolfo Aizpurua
Aizcorbe; Vice-Treasurer, Sr. Ramiro
Blanco Calas; Librarian. Sra. Lclia
Fernandez Pagsla; Auditor, Sr. C. P.
Roberto Latour Picdra.

Activities .—The joint meetings of the
Lodges recommenced in September 1971.
They will be held monthly, Atma
Lodge meeting on Mondays, Annie
Bcsant Lodge on Tuesdays and so on.
Atma Lodge is dealing with the subject
of Reincarnation; Annie Bcsant, with
the Seven Rays.

Board of Directors. —Eleven Lodges
were represented at a meeting on 13th
December, 1970. A Budget of SI.503.40
was approved for 1971. Sr. Abclhardo
del Real!, of the American Section, and
past member of the Cuban Section, was
appointed to represent the Cuban Section
at the Inter-American Conference at
Bogota, Columbia. The National Officers
were appointed and the Annual Report
was read.

66th National Convention. —Fifteen
Lodges were represented. Public lectures
during the Convention were given on
the following subjects: “ Yoga and the
Theosophist ” (Sr. Ignacio Munio,
Leadbcatcr Lodge); “Ancient Greek
Mythology, Its Interpretation in the Light

of Occultism ” (Sr. Gaspar Torres,
Dharma Lodge); “The Absolute Be-
ncss and the Solar Deity" (Sr. Manuel
Martinez Mendez, Sophia Lodge); and
“ Ancient Wisdom" (Sr. Alfredo Puig,
Annie Bcsant Lodge).

Lodges and Members. —The number of
members has increased, compared to last
year, from 340 to 362, as of 30th September
1971. New members numbered 39, re¬
joined 4. There was a loss of 21 members,
9 being deceased and 12 being transfers
out (leaving the country).

Srta. Hortensia Diaz dc Villegas has
recovered from her illness which kept her
inactive for several years. She is active
again in Annie Besant Lodge and in
her other Theosophica! activities. We
arc all very happy to have her back.

Most of the Lodges were active during
the year in their studies and work.

Theosophical Publications. —In January
1971, the Section started a publication
Orientaciones Teosoficas. It is mimeo¬
graphed. published every fifteen days and
sent to all the Lodges. It maintains
contact between the Section and the
Lodges, and publishes articles, translated
from The Theosophist and other Thcoso-
phical publications, international and
national news.

Revista Teosofica Cuban a. —This has
not been published since 1966. How¬
ever. we arc making plans to start its
publication again, in mimeograph, perhaps
in January 1972.

Theosophical Festivities. —These took
place as usual in the Section’s building
in Havana.

On Foundation Day (November 17,
1970), the lectures given were “ H.P.B. ”
by Sr. Juan Bautista Rodriguez. “ H. S.
Olcott '* by Sr. Alfredo Cabrera and “ The
Theosophical Society" by Sra. Lclia
Fernandez Pagola.

FINLAND

On the 66th Anniversary of the Founda¬
tion of the Cuban Section (January 7,
1971), lectures were given by Sr. Juan
Bautista Rodriguez (“ Theosophy in
Cuba ”), Sra. Evangelina Arbolacz (“ Jose
Maria Mass6 ”) and Sra. Carmen Segon
Pozos (“ The Cuban Section ”).

Adyar Day, (February 17, 1971) was
celebrated with talks by Sra. Nocmi
Saldana on Col. H. S. Oleott, Sra.
Encarnacion Sanchez on Mr. C. W.
Lcadbcatcr. Dr. Dana Cruz Bustillo on
Dr. Annie Besant and Sra. Lclia Fernandez
Pagola on Adyar.

On White Lotus Day (May 8, 1971),
readings were given, as usual, from the
Bhagavad Gita and The Light of Asia.
On May 10, 1971. the occasion of the

Wesak full moon, a talk was given on
the Wesak Ceremonial.

In all these festivities music and artistic
items were offered by members of different
Lodges. A special mention is made of
Sra. Josefina dc Cepeda of Annie
Besant Lodge, who plays the piano at
all Thcosophical festivities.

Finance .—The National Bank re¬
gulations do not allow the export of
dollars, and as in previous years, it has
not been possible for us to comply with
our financial obligations to Adyar. How¬
ever, we have made the corresponding
reserve of funds in our financial records.

Dana Cruz-Bustillo,
Genera! Secretary.

HUNGARY

No Report

FINLAND

The work of the Section is carried on
along the established lines. The Annual
Convention was held at Easter at a
High School in Helsinki. It was a
matter of regret that our very competent
and respected General Secretary, Attc
Pohianmaa, had to retire after only 3 years
in office.

There are 23 Lodges in 12 localities
(2 of them dormant) meeting weekly or
twice a month. Public lectures on Sun¬
days and other occasions at the Head¬
quarters and some times in provincial
towns are well attended. Our Lecture
Hall is often too small. There are a
dozen able members who carry out this
work without shrinking from the task.

Public and Lodge activities arc sus¬
pended from 8 May to September, in¬
cluding the Libraries. During the summer
season interest is centred at Kreivila,
the summer home, the place of the Summer
School for 9-10 days in midsummer, of
excursions and weekends, gatherings with
talks, discussions, music and bathing
and swimming. It is a meeting place of
the whole Section. The motto of the
Summer School this year was “ Growing
Human ”, and 20 speakers were heard.

It is worth mentioning that there is a
Benevolent Fund (in memory of Mr.
John Sonck) and a sum equivalent to
£350 a year is made in grants to elderly
members. Many are grateful for the

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

grunts which enable them to take part
in the Summer School.

The official organ of the section is
Teosofi , which has 10 issues a year, and
is edited by Mrs. Sylvi Horstio. Letters to
members are distributed monthly. There
is urgent need of more literature, new
books and reprints of some old ones.
Raising money for repairs and decorations
of the Headquarters and the summer
home has been successful. We hope to
find money for books too.

The Section is far from satisfied that
all is being done to promote the Theoso-
phical cause in our country. But there

is life and will to serve and sacrifice, and
we believe that the Section is fulfilling
its role in the Society.

International contacts arc always much
appreciated and we were happy to have
Mr. and Mrs. Leslie-Smith with us for
two days in May. The Section was
represented at the Paris Congress in
August by the General Secreatry; 4
members visited Huizen Centre and a
group of 10 Finns went to the Scandi¬
navian Summer School in Sweden.

SlRKKA KlVILINNA,
General Secretary.

RUSSIA

Dissolved

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

No Report

SOUTHERN AFRICA

The Lodges in this Section have
continued to spread the Thcosophical
teachings along their own particular
lines. Interesting lectures from members
and non-members have provided oppor¬
tunity for study and discussion.

Mr. John Coats, the international
lecturer, visited this country in April and
gave lectures in nearly every Lodge.
He was the Guest of Honor at the Easter
Convention in Cape Town, and his
contributions in both serious and happy
vein added much to the success of this
occasion.

The membership is down again this
year. The rise of many groups, some
professing to have Masters “ in the flesh ”
and others with well-established lecturers,
has been of greater attraction than our
own Society. These groups are. however,
valuable inasmuch as they introduce
forms of the Ancient Wisdom which
appeal to the different types of tempera¬
ment. Those who stay the course in our
Society realise the precious and satisfying
teachings of Theosophy and so remain
a nucleus in the midst of this modem
world.

SCOTLAND

Mrs. B. Cattell, our Field Officer, is
doing valuable work by keeping in close
contact with the Lodges in this Section
and with the unattached members who
live too far to attend meetings. She
is supplying them with Theosophical

books and magazines which contain the
news of the work in other parts of the
world.

Lily M. Membrey,
General Secretary.

SCOTLAND

In Scotland there arc 88 members and
four Lodges—Edinburgh. Glasgow, Aber¬
deen and Dunfermline.

The work goes on steadily in spite of
difficulties caused by the postal strike
and the efforts of pseudo-occult organisa¬
tions which would like to take us over.
On the other hand, we have been able to
help the work in Nigeria, where Lagos
Lodge is going from strength to strength
and is beginning to work in the T.O.S.,
and in Enugu by supplying members
there with books, since their Libraries
were destroyed during their civil war.

It is encouraging to find intelligent
young people attending our meetings in
their search for the meaning and purpose
of life, and some vital discussions are
taking place. Also, older persons who
had resigned or lapsed are finding out
their mistake and renewing their interest.

The European Congress in Paris was
attended by the General Secretary and
another member from Scotland, and many
new friendships were made in Europe.

Magazines like The Theosophist and
Theosophy in Action are circulated to
members and friends, as well as cyclostylcd
copies of the President's talk to Australian

members at their Convention. 1970,
“ The Real Aim of the Society ”, and
Dr. Besant's “ O. Hidden Light ", These
have been widely read and much ap¬
preciated. Books have been placed in the
Public Libraries in Edinburgh and St.
Andrews, and individual writers have
contributed articles on Theosophy to
popular magazines.

The T.O.S. keeps active and has sent
out parcels, good clothing and money
to Algeria, Jordan and Pakistan. Sick
visiting and animal welfare have not
been forgotten.

Special commemorative days have been
celebrated and gifts remitted to Adyar.

It is with great regret that we record
the deaths of two old. faithful members
—Mrs. A. D. Brown and Mrs. Isa
Crossley. Both did magnificent public
work during their long lives, and it is
unfortunate that younger members have
not the same responsibility and willing¬
ness to undertake official duties, with
the result that too heavy a load is being
carried by only a few dedicated members.

Jean Carstairs,
General Secretary.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPH1CAL SOCIETY

SWITZERLAND

The 1971 Annual Convention of the
Section was held in Basle, about 40
members attending. Our guest speaker
was Dr. Norbert Lauppert, Vice-Chairman
of the Thcosophical Society in Europe and
General Secretary of the Austrian Section,
who spoke on “ The Cry for Freedom ”,
A symposium was held on “ Man’s
Inner Resources" (the key-note of the
European Congress). The Swiss National
Committee met three times in the year
under report (in November 1970. and
March and September 1971).

Lodge work continued as usual.
Weekly public lectures as well as various
courses were held at the headquarters
in Geneva. Mrs. Rachel Tripet, who had
temporarily taken over the function of
Chairman of the Geneva Group of Lodges,
was succeeded by Miss Emma Rebsamcn.
Work proceeds on the preparation of
catalogues for the large libraries in Geneva
and Basle.

Visiting speakers included Mr. and Mrs.
Kunz (from New York) and Mr. John
Coats (in Basle), as well as various
members of the French Section (in Geneva
and Lausanne). The President paid a
short visit to Geneva, and his secretary
Miss Nisewanger was in Basle and
Geneva. Mrs. Claire Wyss, Chairman of
the Theosophical Society in Europe, and

the General Secretary visited various
lodges.

The Swiss Section shares the magazines
I.e Lotus Bleu and AJyar with other
sections and benefits from the publications
issued by the Adyar Publish ing Houses
in Paris and Graz.

The General Secretary attended the
European Council meetings held during
the European Congress in Paris, at which
about 14 members from Switzerland
were present. Other members also took
part in the Young Theosophists camp
and the Pichl German-speaking summer
school, and paid visits to the Huizen
Centre.

The various schemes launched by the
Administrator of the Meyer Fund, Mr.
Georges Tripet, arc progressing, including
a literary competition and the placing
of books on Theosophy in public libraries.

The present General Secretary’s period
of ofFice will end on 31st December
1971, and Mr. G. Tripet was elected her
successor at a National Committee meet¬
ing held on 25th September. She wishes
Mr. Tripet much success and happiness
in his activity and is certain that the
Section will flourish under his guidance.

Mary Anderson,
General Secretary.

BELGIUM

This year the work of the Section
proceeded normally, apparently without
outstanding events.

I say apparently, because for eyes
which are able to see, even when nothing
seems to happen, there arc signs which
could be most important for the future
of the society in Belgium.

Let us begin with what has happened.
The General Secretary visited the Branches
at Liege, Gand and Bruges. She did
not have the opportunity to visit Antwerp,
but hopes to do so in the Autumn. She
spoke everywhere of 44 The Spirituality
of Man". This is a very important
subject. It is obvious that if the thoughts

BURMA

of all mankind were orientated towards
the Spirit and the search for the Divinity
in Man, the whole of humanity would
transform itself rapidly and would be
infinitely more happy than it actually is.

Besides her travels in Belgium, the
General Secretary went to St. Andrews
in Scotland to assist at the Congress of
the European Federation, and to Aussois
in France to assist at the Summer School
of the Latin countries. She was invited
to speak at both of these gatherings,
where the Vice-President and Mrs. Perkins
were also present. The General Secretary
later visited Huizen, where she had the
opportunity of making contact with the
great occultist. Mr. G. Hodson.

This year 33 new members joined:

20 in Brussels, 2 in Liege, 5 in Gand,
1 in Bruges and 5 in Antwerp.

Four members passed away and 2
resigned, so we have a gain of 27 members.

In 1970 we had 226 members; this year
we have 253.

Thirty-six public lectures were delivered
in Brussels, with an average attendance
of 40-50 persons.

An important event for Theosophy
in general is the recent publication of a
book dedicated to the history of Theo¬
sophy in the world. The Society ap¬
proaches its Centenary. It will begin
a new spring; it seems that a new wind
is rising.

BlRTHb NYSSENS,
General Secretary.

INDONESIA

Section Suspended

BURMA

The year under report was, so to say,
one of consolidation. Total membership
stands at 56, as against 53 the preceding
year. There were 4 new admissions and
one left the country.

The Burmese Section, with its six
constituent Lodges, Oleott, Youth, Bho-
dhi, Lotus, Blavatsky and Taungdwingyi,
continued to show its strength steadily
in spreading Theosophy. The Oleott
Lodge, particularly, with its library of
a small but fine collection of books,
supplemented recently by some of the
latest Theosophical literature from Adyar.
attracts scholars in pursuit of Philosophy.
Religion and allied subjects.

The Lodge continued to serve as a centre
for the propagation of Theosophy through

the week, with gatherings. Study Classes
on The Voice of the Silence , The Bhagavad
Gita, etc., and eleven lectures by members
on various themes of Theosophy.

The other six constituent Lodges also
continued to serve in their own unique
ways in the cause of Theosophy.

Thingangyun Land .—This is still at the
same stage as the previous year.

Burma Educational Trust .—After the
nationalisation of the Trust's Co-
Educational School in April 1966, the
Government acquired the remaining land
and buildings of the Trust in March 1971.
Following legal advice, the Trust has
taken appropriate steps and submitted a
claim for compensation for the property,

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

and also for the recovery of the Trust’s
frozen Bank Account.

Blamtsky Lodge, May myo.—The Sec¬
tion had to continue paying its Land
and Municipal Taxes, as it is no longer
able to do so, due to lack of membership
and funds. We might say it is now in a
dormant state.

Fifty-eighth Annual Convention .—'This
was held on 25th October, 1970, at the
Oleott Lodge, 102, 49th street, Rangoon,
with over 30 members taking part.
Dr. U. Tin Min of Kyaukpyu gave
the opening lecture. A symposium on
“ How to be a Better Thcosophist ” was
held, followed by lively discussions among
the members. Morning coffee, lunch
and evening tea also formed main
attractions.

Finance .—The audited accounts show
an opening balance of K.4,098/22 and
closing balance of K.4,187/69 giving an
excess of K.79/47 for the year. K.30.000
National Savings Certificates bought in
the name of the Burmese Section, but to
be claimed by the donor Mr. U. Kyaw
Hla of Mandalay Lodge for reasons
explained in the previous year’s report,
still remain in the custody of the Section,
as they are not matured yet.

Conclusion .—As members of the Theo-
sophical Society, we shall strive to the
best of our ability to be true Theoso-
phists leading a life of purity, peace and
harmony.

Than Kyaing,

Assistant General Secretary.

AUSTRIA

During the year under report the work
in the Lodges in Hruck and Linz and in
the Federations at Vienna and Graz was
done more or less along the same lines as
in the previous year. In October 1969,
we had the visit of the Vice-President
Mr. Perkins and of Mrs. Perkins to
Vienna, Graz and Linz, and in September
1971, the visit of Mrs. Claire Wyss.

The Central Council of the Section
met at Bruck a.d.Mur on June 20th, 1971.
A resolution was passed for an amendment
of the Section’s Constitution. The scat
of the Section which before was at Vienna,
will now be at the dwelling place of the
General Secretary; since the undersigned
lives at Graz, the seat of the Section during
the term of his office will be at Graz.
A further amendment concerns the official
year of the Section: it ran before from
July 1st to June 30th, and will be now
from January 1st to December 31st.

The Regional Summer School at Pichl
was held along similar lines as last year.
Again more than 80 members from five
European countries and from Israel were
present. Mrs. Claire Wyss presided, and
Mr. John Coats was Guest of Honor.
Owing to the bad weather which prevented
excursions in the afternoons, the work
done was more intensive than in any
previous year.

Membership of the Section shows a
small decrease, though 17 new members
came in (2 more than last year), owing
to more deaths and lapsings; the total
number is now 233 (against 239 last
year).

The publishing work of our regional
“ Adyar-Verlag ” goes on growing larger
from year to year. The sales of books
increased again at a rate of 40% against
the previous year. Five books were
published during the year under report:

Norway

The Mirror of Life and Death by L. J.
Bcndit (German translation—November
1970); Raja Yoga by Wallace Slater
(German translation—December 1970);
The Ancient Wisdom by Annie Besant
(second edition of the German translation
—February 1971 in cooperation with the
T. P. H. London, printed in England);
At the Feet of the Master by Alcyone
(fourth edition of the new German
translation, comprising the 10th, 11th
and 12th thousand copies—July 1971);

Thoughts for Aspirants by N. Sri Ram
(German translation of selected parts
—August 1971). A fourth edition of
H. P. B.’s The Voice of the Silence is in
the press and will appear in January 1972.

The undersigned attended the meetings
of the European Council at Paris in
August 1971, and was guest at the Swiss
Convention at Basle in March 1971.

Norbert Lauppert,
General Secretary.

NORWAY

We have had a rather busy year, with
encouragements as well as disappoint¬
ments.

On the positive side was the visit of
Leslie and Madeleine Lcslic-Smith in
May 1971. We had three interesting
evenings with them, and they even spoke
on the White Lotus Day which was cele¬
brated during their visit.

In September we had a visit from Dr.
K. J. Kabraji who came to sec Norway.

The Magazine Teosofi I Nordcn
is also an asset, is as before produced
in co-operation with Denmark and
Sweden, and very much appreciated in
Norway.

In the summer I was able to visit the
lodges in the western part of Norway,
and was happy to meet wholehearted
members there. A group of them lived

quite near each other and formed a
sort of center, small but powerful.

In September we had a very inspiring
Annual Convention.

Our difficulties are, for instance, that
so many of our older members have
passed away lately, and it is not so easy
to replace them. And most people arc
not so interested in listening to lectures
as before. They arc too occupied with
their TVs, sports and so on. It is more
difficult to spread the theosophical ideas
now. We seem to need new methods for
this work, and we arc trying hard to find
them.

Membership is now 141. We got 5
new members during the last year, and
8 members passed to the other side.

Ruth Wessel Nielsen,
General Secretary.

10 THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

EGYPT

(Lodges only)

No Report

DENMARK

During the last year we have had many
memorable events in the Danish section.
From 13th-22nd April 1971, Mr. and Mrs.
Lcslic-Smith were touring Denmark.
They gave public lectures and talked in
many lodges all over the country. We
felt that this visit tied the English and
Danish section still closer together and
we profitted very much by their insight,
wisdom and humour.

It was a great joy for us to welcome
Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Hodson in spring¬
time and very inspiring and instructive
for all of us to attend the study-seminar
conducted by Mr. Hodson. It was indeed
a great success, and the audience increased
all the time during their stay here which
lasted three weeks, after which they left
for Holland.

Our Convention took place in Copen¬
hagen from 7th-9th May in connection
with Sandra and Geoffrey Hodson’s visit.
Mr. Hodson was the guest-speaker.

Mr. Hardy Bennis has been appointed
our new editor for the Danish section of
Teosofi i Nor den. After a long and
faithful service as editor, Mrs. Anna
Viking retired, and a little later she left
for Australia where she may stay for
good in order to be closer to her son who
lives there.

The Danish edition of The Secret
Doctrine, published in four volumes,
is selling exceptionally well, and it was
positively mentioned in some of the
newspapers* book-reviews.

The different lodges in Copenhagen
which have their own libraries agreed to

put all their books together and establish
a good si/e library in Copenhagen which
will be open both for members and public.
The library will be ready in the beginning
of December. Our main library will
still remain at Stavrby Bondchavc on
Fyn (close to Ganimcl Pracstcgaard).

The circulation of our monthly maga¬
zine .Yu (Now) has during the year
increased from 1000 to almost 1500, and
the interest and demand for it is great.
The expenses are covered by free dona¬
tions.

The public lectures in Copenhagen in
autumn 1970 and spring 1971 have each
time attracted a relatively large audience
of up to 100. About 3000 attractive
pamphlets were distributed telling about
this series of lectures. In addition many
of the lodges have monthly lodge-meetings
open to the public.

Due to the European Congress in Paris
in August 1971 and the study-seminar in
May conducted by Geoffrey Hodson we
skipped our almost traditional summer-
school at Gammel Pracstcgaard, but plan
a big one next year.

As a whole the last year has been
characterized by much activity and a
fruitful interchange and interaction among
lodges and members.

There are II lodges in Denmark. 28
members joined the section and 11 left,
6 passing on to greater light. So the
net increase amounts to 17. The total
membership is now 295.

Prkben Sorensen,
General Secretary.

MEXICO

IRELAND

As regards the actual work of the
Society, matters improved. We ventured
an advertisement in a daily paper, which
brought a heartening response. So inte¬
rest is increasing and our membership
is rising. Some interesting young people
have joined. One of them. Miss Dunleavy,
is a trained Librarian and she has been
cataloguing our really valuable library.
We have, for instance, got five volumes of
the old Irish Theosophist which was
edited by AE (George Russell), and which
arc much sought after, and not only by
Thcosophists.

For the first time for years, we had only
one visitor, Mr. Adamson, sent to us by
the Montreal Lodge. This lack of visitors
may have been caused by the tragic
situation that Ireland now finds herself in.

I was prevented from representing the
Lodge at the Conference at Nottingham,
owing to illness.

We had the sad occurrence of losing a
valued member and friend by the death
of Mrs. Moya Bligh; over fifty years ago
she had been co-founder of the Dublin
Lodge, which has been newly reconsti¬
tuted.

We said “ Farewell ” with deep regrets
when our popular member, Mr. D. G.
Chaudri (who was Charge-d’Affaires of
the Indian Embassy) left for India with
his family.

However we look forward with
confidence to the future.

Dorothy M. Emerson,
General Secretary.

MEXICO

The present year has been a prosperous
one for the Mexican Section in various
ways.

The General Secretary attended the
Inter-American Congress held in Bogota,
Colombia during February 17-21.

The President of the Inter-Amcrican
Federation, Brother Luis Spairani, visited
us with a Delegation of the Argentina
Section. It was also a pleasure to meet
again Brothers Fritz and Helen Locnhol Jt
from Wheaton, III., in early March.

On August 19th Brother Geoffrey
Hodson arrived and dear Sister Sandra
too. He was our Guest Speaker. Public
lectures were held at the magnificent
auditorium of the Freemasons. Some

of the members of this Movement were
very much attracted to the Thcosophical
teachings. Lectures for our members were
delivered in our social building.

Logia Evolucion from Picdras Ncgras
in the State of Coahuila has built
its own building for its Thcosophical
activities. There is much enthusiasm
among the members of this Lodge in
opening their building any time now.

We have been doing some important
repairing in our social building, and
membership is increasing more and more
everyday.

Sonia Perez Vera,
General Secretary,

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

CANADA

Qualitative measurements of Theoso-
phical activity are not necessarily a reli¬
able guide to real achievements. Bare
statistics show little progress for the
Theosophical Society in Canada in the
year under review, but behind the figures
are suggestions of accomplishments in
these twelve months. Only time will
indicate their true worth.

The period roughly coincided with the
first year of activity in the new premises
of the Toronto Lodge, the largest single
unit in the Canadian Section. The official
opening on November 21. 1970, heralded
a busy season in which most of the tradi¬
tional programs were resumed and several
new ones started. The spacious facilities
proved adaptable to the Lodge’s require¬
ments and were put to good use thereafter.
It is particularly gratifying to report
that after more than three years in which
only partial service could be provided,
the Lodge's excellent library is once again
in a position to shelve its entire collection.

A new Lodge was chartered on May 8,
White Lotus Day. This was the Atma
Vidya Lodge in Victoria, British
Columbia. Its Founder-President, Mr.
Benjamin Garsidc, was also instrumental
in putting the St. Thomas Lodge on the
Theosophical map more than fifty years
ago; thus the new Lodge is fortunate
to be linked with the robust early years
of the Canadian Section.

The election held in the Spring was
the first under the new by-law which
provides for a three-year (instead of one-
year) term of office for the General
Secretary and Executive. As well as
saving the significant cost of holding
annual elections it is hoped the new

arrangement will result in the develop¬
ment of longer term projects than have
been considered hitherto.

During the year discussions were held
with the T.S. in America whereby the
Canadian Section would provide an
interest free loan to assist with the publi¬
cation of the H. P. Blavatsky Collected
Writings. It is hoped this would allow
the publishing program to be accelerated.
Arrangements are expected to be comple¬
ted before the end of 1971.

With the resources available in Canada
it is not easy to make Theosophy known
to a wider public except through open
meetings held by the larger Lodges.
Sometimes we arc asked by other organiza¬
tions to provide speakers on Theosophy
and reincarnation, and in the past year
such occasions have been instrumental
in creating new interest in different areas.

Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Barborka were
again kind enough to stop over in Canada
en route from Europe to their home in
California. In November, 1970, as in
the previous year, they visited Lodges in
eastern Canada while in this country as
guests of the T. S. in Canada.

Preparations for the 1971 North
American Theosophical Students’ Con¬
ference, which will be held in Toronto,
October 9-11, has been a major activity
of the Section in the past six months.
Co-sponsor of the Conference, the third
of its kind, is The Theosophical Society
in America. All students, regardless of
affiliation, arc invited to the Conference,
which like its predecessors will encourage
individual participation.

Ted G. Davy,

General Secretary.

ARGENTINA

National Meetings. —From 9 to II
October. 1970, in Rio Cuarto (Cordoba
Province), one public lecture and two
round table meetings.

From II to 12 October 1970, in Rosario
(Santa Fe Province), National Meeting of
Young Theosophists, one public lecture
and one round table meeting.

From 8 to 11 July 1971, in Cordoba, two
public lectures, one round table meeting
of members, and another of Young
Theosophists.

From 13 to 16 August 1971, in Buenos
Aires, three public lectures.

From 23 to 26 September 1971, in
Rosario, two public lectures, one round
table meeting of Young Theosophists.

Camps. —From 9 to 16 January 1971,
National Camp of Young Theosophists in
Cordoba; from 20 to 23 February 1971,
camp for older people in Cordoba.

Visitors. —From 27th February to 4th
March, we had the visit of the Vice-
President of the North American Section,
Mr. Felix Layton and his wife Eunice,
who gave several public lectures and left
excellent impressions.

National Congresses. —53rd Ordinary
Congress In Cosquin on 2.4.71; Extra¬
ordinary Congress in Buenos Aires on
15.8.71; Ordinary Congress in Buenos
Aires on 15.8.71 when Br. Manuel
Farinich was appointed General Secretary
from 1971 to 1974.

Summer School. —From 3rd to 10th
April 1971, the 9th Summer School,
subject “ The Theosophist Facing the
Circumstances ”, 120 Argentine members
assisted as well as 15 from other countries.

Inter-American Congress. —From 11th
to 19th February 1971, the Section was
represented by its General Secretary,
Luis Spairani at this Congress held in
Bogota. Colombia, where he was
nominated President of the Inter-American
10

Thcosophical Federation, since it was
Argentine’s turn to take the chair.

Research ami Study Seminar. —This
began on 1st September in Buenos Aires.
The participating members are working
in 3 groups, each of which deals with the
research and study of one of the Thcoso¬
phical objects. The conclusions of the
groups will be published in the Section
Review.

Lecturers' Activities in the Section .—
During the year, several speakers travelled
through the country giving lectures in
Tucaman, Mendoza, San Rafael, Cordoba,
and Rosario.

Formation of New Youth Groups. —On
4th September 1971, a new youth group
was founded in the Province of Santa F6.

The active participation of the young
in the activities of the Section must be
emphasized. In all national meetings
they take charge of some public work, by
which means they become more and more
integrated in the work.

Visits of Members of the Council to
Branches.— The members of the National
Council repeatedly visited most of the
Lodges, so that they could verify for
themselves the level of Thcosophical work
carried on there and the effort to diffuse
our doctrines.

Diffusion and Propaganda.— Several
times we had the opportunity to diffuse by
radio and television our doctrines to a large
audience. Actually, a Thcosophical course
is broadcasted in the tow n of Rosario.

Thcosophical Publishing .—I must also
mention the remarkable increase in
publishing, comprising several books as
well as great numbers of leaflets published
by the National Council and distributed
free of charge. The Review of the Section
appears regularly four times a year.

Manuel Farinich,
General Secretary.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

CHILE

No Report.

BRAZIL

Visit to the Lodges of North and North-
East Brazil. —The work of the National
Section in Brazil is complicated by the
great distances which separate some
Lodges from the National Head Office.
For this reason, after participating in
the IVth Inter-American Thcosophical
Congress, held in Bogota (Columbia) in
February, 1971, the National President,
together with the Sisters Cora Sales
(1st secretary) and Maria Bruna Sales
(member of the General Council), seized
the opportunity to visit the Lodges cn
route.

They established very cordial and useful
relations with the following Lodges:
Jezus de Nazare, Manaus (Amazonas);
Annie Besant, Belem (Para); Henry
Olcott and Estrela do Norte, Recife
(Pernambuco); Espcranca, Joao Passoa
(Paraiba).

Public lectures were given by the
National President, and most fruitful
discussions were held with the Lodge
directors.

Reserve Fund for purchase of their own
house or flat hy the Lodges. —This fund
is intended to help Lodges to purchase
their own premises. Many Lodges are
hindered in their work by high rentals
for the premises they occupy. By increas¬
ing the annual members’ dues, a total of
2360 Cr. has already been gathered.
The first Lodges to be helped from the
Fund will be “ Henry Olcott ” and
“ Estrela do Norte ” in Recife. The
Thcosophical Society in Brazil will be
the owner of the property, the Lodges
having free use of it.

We trust that the good will and dedi¬
cation of all our members to the Thcoso¬
phical ideals will permit us to render
concrete our plans of helping to stabilize
the Lodges and will contribute, in this
way, to the expansion of Theosophy in
Brazil.

Reform of Statutes. —The existing
Statutes of the T.S. in Brazil have many
failings which need correction. The
General Council has appointed a commis¬
sion consisting of Dr. Antonio Moreno
Gonzales (President), Olavo Desire
Dantas and Gastao Sales to prepare new
Statutes, which will then be circulated for
opinions.

Advice to the Lodges. —The National
Directorate found it necessary to advise
all the Directors of Lodges in Brazil
against functioning in conjunction with
other movements. Such conjunction
could create a confusion of teachings,
and conflicts with the General Council
resolution of 1950 at Adyar regarding
freedom of the Society from “ affiliation
or identification with any other organi¬
zation ”.

The Lodges were advised that, if they
did not have their own premises, and could
not afford to pay the rent for a separate
room, it was better to meet in some
member’s private house than to work in
conjunction with other movements that
have a different line of work.

The communication further stated:
“ There is a special key-note, vibrating
in the activities of the T.S., and if we do
not maintain it pure and free of any
mixture, the way of access for those who

BRAZIL

respond lo it will be rendered more
difficult

Summaries of the reports. —Due to
difficulties in communication between the
Lodges and their representatives on the
General Council, the Lodges know very
little about the activities of the National
Section, and the subjects discussed during
the Council's meetings. To remedy such
a situation, the Board of Directors has
re-established a former custom to provide
all the Lodges and study-groups with
summaries of the reports of the General
Council's meetings. In this way, through
their respective Lodges and groups, the
members shall be informed of the more
important undertakings of our Society
in Brazil.

The National Section hopes that the
necessary collaboration, offered by the
Lodges and groups, will tighten the link
between all the members of the T.S.,
enabling everyone to take an interest
and participate in the thcosophical work.

Campaign against the use of narcotics .—
The T.S. in Brazil, wanting to participate
in the campaign against narcotics of the
Brazilian authorities, printed 10,000 copies
of the booklet by Mr. GeofTrey Hodson
on psychedelic and yogic pathways to
reality. These will be distributed among
High School students, and every Lodge
will receive 100 copies for distribution.

Dissolution of the Thcosophical Lodges
Federation of Sao Paulo Slate. —By a
resolution of more than three fifths of
its constituent Lodges, the Federation
was legally dissolved. All the property
passed to the Thcosophical Society in
Brazil, but the Lodges have free use of it.

The Inter-American Thcosophical
Federation. —From February 13 to 20,
1971, the IVth Inter-American Thcoso¬
phical Congress took place, partly in
Bogota and partly in Mclgar (Columbia).
It was presided over by its Secretary-
Coordinator, Brother Ulisses Riedel dc

Rcscndc. The sections represented were:
the United States (Vice-President Felix
Layton); Bolivia (Presidential Agent
Elvira d’Avila); Peru (Dolores Gago
Fuerte); Columbia (General Secretary
Gabriel Burgos Suares); Venezuela (Presi¬
dential Agent Pablo Bonilla); Cuba
(Abelardo Del Real); Mexico (General
Secretary Sonia Perez Vera); Porto Rico
(General Secretary Seymour Ballard);
Argentine (General Secretary Luiz Pedro
Spairani); Central America (Catalina dc
Menendez); Uruguay (General Secretary
Joachim Blumcnfeld); Brazil (General
Secretary Armando Sales). Other mem¬
bers of the Brazilian Section partici¬
pating were Cora Sales, Enidc Borges dc
Rcscndc, Maria Bruna Sales and Olavo
Desire Dantas.

Study and debates were conducted on
the subjects “ Realisation of an inner
life " and “ Methods of spreading Theo¬
sophy ". The Statutes of the Inter-
American Federation were approved, and
Luiz Pedro Spairani and Juan Vinas
were elected President and Vice-President
respectively. Other members of the Board
of Directors arc: Secretary, Gilda Distilo;
Treasurer. Manuel Farinich; Additional
Members, Vicente Fiumano and Nora
Castcllina; Publishing Director, Juan
Cassiba; Representative of the Portuguese
language. Dr. Ulisses R. dc Rcsende;
Representative of the English language,
Seymour Ballard.

The next Inter-American Theosophical
Congress will be held in 1975 in New York,
U.S. A., during the Centenary Celebrations.

Members of the Brazilian Section will
contribute annually I Cr. to the Federa¬
tion. A magazine will be published,
probably three-monthly, and the Brazilian
Section appeals to all to subscribe to it,
through Leduina Riedel Campos, the
assistant treasurer.

Spreading of Theosophy through Press
and Television.—Television: On the

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

program “Xenia and you ”, wc took part
in 10 weekly interviews, for answering
questions on Theosophical subjects.
Participants were Dr. Antonio Moreno
Gonzales, Olavo Desire Dantas, Joao
Batista de Brito Pinto, Joaquim Gervasio
Figueiredo and Armando Sales. The
program awakened great public interest.

Newspapers. —Finally wc got a column
in the Sunday edition of one of the
big afternoon papers in Sao Paulo,
the Diario Popular. Articles by Annie
Bcsant, C. Jinarajadasa, Rukmini Devi,
C. W. Lcadbcater and N. Sri Ram were
published. Wc also received various
newspaper write-ups on Theosophy,
through Lodges Jesus dc Nazare and
Kut-Humi.

Visitors.— The Brazilian Section had the
great pleasure of receiving a visit from
the Vice-President of the T.S. in U.S.A.,
Brother Felix Layton and his wife, Sister
Eunice Layton. The couple visited Rio
de Janeiro and Sao Paolo. In Sao Paolo
they gave lectures which were much
appreciated, in the Head Office, in the
Theosophical Institute “Pitagoras” and
in the Theosophical Centre “ Raja

Theosophical Lodges. —Wc have the
pleasure to inform you about the forming
of two new Lodges: Alvorada in Brasilia
and Luz do Oricntc in Tcofilo Otoni
(Minas Gerais). Wc expess our best
wishes for successful work to the
Directors and the members of these two
new Lodges. May they be true centres
of harmony and peace, and spread the
theosophical wisdom among those who
sincerely search for it.

The total membership of the Brazilian
Section is presently 981, a decrease of
50 members. One reason for this decrease
is probably the increase of the annual
fee, from 10 to 15 Cr.

The report from the Young Thcoso-
phists proves that they have been very
active. They organized a tour to Bclo

Horizonte in October 1971, and another
one to Nitcroi. The same month they
took part in a meeting in Curitiba, when
the ** Round Table ” Section was founded.
A little later a small group participated
in the Summer School in Argentina.
In July, a camp was organized in the
vicinity of Belo Horizonte.

“ O Tcosofista ",—The work of publish¬
ing the magazine is done by Sister Dilma
Lcbon, and the distribution by Sister
Lcduina Riedel Campos. To these two
dedicated collaborators we express our
best thanks. Sister Lcbon has asked to
be released from her work, and will be
replaced by Brother Olvao Desire Dantas,
who acquired great experience by publish¬
ing the magazine Lures.

Library.—One of the first things done
by the National Section, after receiv¬
ing the property of the dissolved Federa¬
tion, was to re-open the library, which had
been closed for a long time. Brother
Jose Cacais Goncalvcs was appointed
Librarian. After many months of
arduous work, he put it in order and made
it function.

Publication and Distribution of Theoso¬
phical books. —This important department
is headed by Brother Maximino Rocha.
With the expansion of work, everything
becomes more complicated, creating
various difficulties. The National Section
is considering the formation of a joint
stock company for the publication and
distribution of books.

Secretarial Work. —The first secretary
is Sister Cora Sales, who has had a great
deal of work to do in keeping membership
records, corresponding with Lodges and
individuals, library cataloguing, classifi¬
cation of archives, etc. Wc thank her
and also Sister Scbastiana dc Carvalho
c Silva for her assistance. The second
secretary. Brother Paulo de Castro com¬
piled the reports of General Council and
Executive Board Meetings.

ICELAND

Treasury Report. —Period: from Sep¬
tember 16, 1970 to September 15, 1971.
The present balance indicates a total of
Cr. 31,379.63 as stated in the report by
the Treasurer, Ovdio Christino.

Thanks .—We express our best thanks
to the members of the Executive Staff
and of the General Council who, during
this period, helped us to overcome all
the difficulties in our Section's life. It
can be seen from the report that it was
a year of ^rcat work, of magnificent
accomplishments.

Many brethren participated directly
in this effort and among them, some merit
our especial gratitude. Such arc the
Secretaries, Sister Leduina Riedel Campos,
Brother Cacais and others. Sister
Leduina, in spite of being almost 70, has
under her care the functioning of the
handicraft school in the Thcosophical
Centre “ Raja ”, where every Thursday
she teaches 30 to 40 pupils. The First

Treasurer, Brother Ovidio Christino, in
spite of poor health did an excellent work
as book-keeper. The Second Treasurer is
responsible for all bank transactions,
cheques and payments, and also
for mailing the magazine O Teosofista.
We must also underline the work done by
Brother Jose Cacais Gonealves in recently
re-opening the Library. He never counts
the hours he dedicates to the Theosophieal
work. The Vice-President. Brother Dr.
Antonio Moreno Gonzales, gave us many
proofs of his dedication and interest in
the general work.

We wish that, through the work of all
of us, we could find a common denomi¬
nator, that would allow us to totalize
all the efforts, to strengthen the Thcoso¬
phical Society in Brazil and contribute
to the penetrating of the Light into the
hearts of those who search for it.

Armando Sales,

General Secretary.

BULGARIA

No Report

ICELAND

The Icelandic Section is now composed
of 14 lodges with 632 members, most of
whom arc living in Reykjavik, the capital
of Iceland. In the course of the season
under review there were 39 new admissions
and the total number of outgoing members
was 32. The membership therefore
increased by 7.

The Annual General Meeting of the
Section was held on 31st January. 1 was
re-elected as General Secretary for another
year.

During last year the Lodge work was
maintained with the usual activities as in
previous years. The Chairmen of the
Lodges participated in three conferences
together with the Executive Committee
to discuss how the work could be improved
and the standard of study heightened.
The Lodges in Reykjavik had regular
meetings every Friday during the winter
season, from September to May. One
of the Lodges, however, was not active.
At the meetings, which were attended by

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

a number of members as well as non-
members of the Society, usually one or
two lectures were given, mostly by
members and occasionally non-members,
and the purport of the lectures was
many-sided.

Then there were also “ inner meetings "
in the Lodges, and various subjects were
chosen for study. In one of the Study
Groups the curriculum was Living Zen,
and I would add that Zen Buddhism has
attracted much attention in the younger
generation. Several study groups were
directed by Mr. Sigvaldi Hjalmarsson.
On Saturdays the curriculum was: The
Thcosophical Society, its work and its
aim. On Wednesdays, he directed weekly
meetings for meditation, some for begin¬
ners and some for advanced students and
those of specific mystical interest. He
also directed a study group on “ Know
Thyself". All this work proved to be
very encouraging and the members showed
a great interest.

The Summer School was held in the
neighbourhood of Reykjavik from 9th
to 13th June. The motto was: "Man
and the Present Time ”. The lecturers of
the school were Mr. Sigvaldi Hjalmarsson,
Ambassador Hclgi P. Briem. Mr. Halldor
Haraldsson. Geir Vilhjalmsson a young
psychologist and many other members
of the Section. Several discussion ses¬
sions were also held and a lively
atmosphere pervaded the school.

The Thcosophical Book-Service has
continued to sell books as in previous
years. Many new titles were added to
the Library during the year and the use
of some has increased considerably, which
1 feel is a good sign. The magazine
Gangierl with a circulation of 2,300
copies is very popular and a most effective
medium of propagation.

The Thcosophical Club, which started
last year in the center at Reykjavik, was
open every Monday and Wednesday
afternoon during the winter time.

In January last the Icelandic Section
celebrated its 50th anniversary with a
festival evening in the Section’s House
in Reykjavik. A great number of the
members took part in the celebration.

The visit of Mr. Geoffrey A. Barborka
and his wife last winter was much ap¬
preciated. Mr. Barborka gave some
lectures on H. P. Blavatsky and The
Secret Doctrine , which were very
interesting.

I would like to close this short report
of the Icelandic Section by mentioning
that we consider that the brotherhood of
humanity is the way to help the suffering
people everywhere in the world—that
brotherhood which is a natural result of
a high state of consciousness, when man
has actually learned to know himself,
and is able to radiate forth real wisdom,
love and peace.

Svava Fells,
General Secretary.

SPAIN

No Report

WALES

PORTUGAL

The Portuguese Section of the Thco-
sophical Society during the last year has
continued its work with the same re¬
gularity. We have celebrated all great
Theosophical Festivals, such as Founders’
Day, Adyar Day and White Lotus Day.
We had public meetings at the Head¬
quarters every fortnight.

The work in the Lodges proceeded,
every week, as usual.

Lodge Koot Hoomi did not meet
regularly, but its President intends to
set up its activities again in 1972.

Among the chief lectures, we must
refer to: “Yoga of Sound”, by Dr.
Fernando Scrpa Branco; “ Yoga of the
Word ”, by Dr. Ccsina Bermudcs; “ The
Meaning of Founders’ Day ”, by the
writer of this Report; “Theosophy be¬
fore the Problems of the World ”, by
Con. Rocha deAbrcu; “Theosophical
Aspects of Pythagorcanism ", “ Theoso¬
phy and Occidental Philosophy “ and
" Philosophy and Neoplatonism ”, by
Dr. Maria Guilhermina Mota Carmo
Nobrc Santos.

We had the pleasure of receiving a
visit from Madame Pcaron-Laroutc. who
gave three important lectures: “ Giordano
Bruno and the New Heaven ”, “ Prome¬

theus ” and “Aladdin and the Lamp”.
Her visit was very helpful to our Section.

The President of Lodge Annie
Bcsant organized some Theosophical
meetings in the country, as usual. She
organized also some meetings for children,
which had an important collaboration in
musical aspects from Dr. Fernando Serpa
Branco and his children.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend
the Theosophical Summer Schools, but
some of our members had the opportunity
to go abroad, attending the Summer
School in France.

Our Section will begin the new Theo¬
sophical Year on the 16th October and
we have planned to have public meetings
every fortnight.

Concerning the membership, we had
182 members on the 1st October 1970
and at present we have 179. We had 11
new members, but we lost three by death
and II by lapsing.

Nevertheless, I hope that our Section
may grow with the help of the Great
Ones to enlighten the world through
the Ideals of Theosophy.

Deuo Nobre Santos,
General Secretary.

WALES

The past year has on the whole been
fairly uneventful, apart from our Annual
Convention held at Cardiff in which our
Guest of Honour, Miss lanthc Hoskins
played an outstanding part with her own
special way of imparting Theosophical
teachings.

There has been a further reduction in
membership due mostly to our older
members passing on, some of whose
services we can ill afford to lose. There

has however been the incoming of a
number of new younger members, partic¬
ularly at Cardiff, where study groups for
new and more advanced members have
been introduced based on Geoffrey
Barborka's Divine Plan and The Secret
Doctrine. These arc proving quite
successful and we look forward to this
interest developing.

Harry Edgar,

GeneraI Secretary.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

POLAND

No Report

URUGUAY

I give below a report on the activities
of the Uruguayan Section during the
brief time I hold office of General Sec¬
retary, that is, since 5th July, 1971. In the
first place I am very pleased to announce
that with the valuable cooperation of the
members of the Executive Committee,
the heavy debt we had on the building
that the former General Secretary, Mr.
Victor Alvarez Bisbal. had bought three
years ago was paid. Thanks to donations
and cooperation of the membership of
the Uruguayan Section we could close the
purchase of the house which is located
in Javier Barrios Amorin No. 1085 street,
Montevideo. Uruguay. The contract of
sale was made out in the name of the
Socicdad Tcosofica Del Uruguay in
accordance with the rules in force in
Uruguay, on the 28th July, 1971. So the
Uruguayan Section has its own house.

With the view that there is an urgent
need of having an informative leaflet by
the Uruguayan Section I issued a publi¬
cation containing a full account on the
real value of some important thcosophical
symbols. The financing of this publica¬
tion named Teosofia in Uruguay was
paid by the writer.

Annual Meeting.— In accordance with
our rules, the Annual Meeting was held
during 28th August and 2nd September
1971. At this meeting each member of
the Society may make suggestions for the
better administration of the section.
Furthermore, all the lodges read their
reports about the work carried out during
the previous year. Below is a summary of
the annual work of each lodge.

Lodge Kut-Humi. —It had weekly meet¬
ings with regular and constant work
through talks and lectures on thcosophical
subjects given by Miss Gladys Bianchi,
and Messrs. E. Maciel. Lorenzo Macciras,
Justo de la Vega and Francisco Caimi.

Lodge Fraternidad—\\ reports that its
work was strengthened by talks and
lectures given by Mr. E. Oliveri of
Argentina, and Mrs. Blanca Olivera,
Messrs. Mario Dobal. A. Dalmontc,
J. Mccias, J. Blumcnfeld and Julio Tolvc
of Uruguay. Special attention was given
to a book on some laws of the occult
fraternity by Miss Clara Codd. At the
present this lodge is devoted to the study
of The Mahatma Letters.

Lodge Morya. —In spite of the long
absence of its president, the lodge worked
with the valuable effort of the Vice-
President, Mrs. Rosa Batalla and the
cooperation of Miss Maria E. Ornstein,
developing studies on books published
by Mr. G. Hodson about Karma and
Reincarnation.

Lodge Harmonia. —During the year
1970-1971 it worked weekly with a good
attendance of members and visitors, lead
by Mrs. Josefina Vazquez and Mrs.
Estcla de Lissary; they read works on
“Music and Theosophy”, “Friendship
Day ”. “ Peace Day ” and made an effect¬
ive study on religions.

Lodge H. P. Blavatsky. —With the
enthusiastic support of its new President
Mr. E. W. Gandolfo, this lodge has been
strengthened by an exhaustive study on
religions, particularly Egyptian initia¬
tions. Ex-President Mrs. R. Branda and

PUERTO RICO

many visitors joined in the 18th Anniver¬
sary celebrations.

Lodge Ariel. —It worked in round
table meetings weekly with a regular
number of members and visitors, having
talks about Theosophy in an endeavour to
have a clearer insight into it.

Lodge Karma- Marga. —It reported
that during 1970-1971 it kept on studying
as usual about different subjects such as
“ Atlantida ”, “The awakening of the
soul”. “Does evil exist?”. “Karma”,
“ Death ", “ Prana ”, “ Kama ”, “ The
Thinker ”, “ Reincarnation ”. It had the
cooperation of Mr. R. J. Minervini of
Argentine who talked about the parables
of the Upanishads and Mrs. Maria E.
Orastcin who gave several lessons on
Yoga.

Lodge DJwhal Khul. —This lodge is
located in the town Las Piedras
about 30 Kms. from Montevideo. It had
an intensive work with 14 active members
devoted to the study of the books The Inner
Life by C. W. Leadbeatcr and Man:

Whence , How and Whither by Annie
Besant and C. W. Leadbeatcr. This lodge
issued leaflets, and gave radio and T.V.
talks with the cooperation of Mr. J.
Vinas of Argentina. It has study centres
about Theosophy for young people of
the town.

Lodge Gautama. —In its 9th year
this Lodge kept on studying The Secret
Doctrine deeply and regularly. After all
these years it reported that its efforts have
been rewarded because it has obtained
some knowledge of the processes of
Divine emanation. The members have
acquired a real conviction of the quality
of the work to be done on themselves,
and in their attitude towards all brothers
in the world.

I am most pleased to send this
report, and I am glad that the Uruguayan
Section can be numbered among those
working regularly throughout the world.

Justo V. de la Vega,
General Secretary.

PUERTO RICO

The outstanding event of the year was
the participation of our Section in the
Fourth Congress of the Inter-American
Theosophical Federation in February at
Bogota, Colombia. The General Sec¬
retary. his wife, and three other members
attended the Congress, during which the
Federation by-laws were approved and
the Federation’s first President was nomi¬
nated and elected.

Not many weeks after the Congress
our Section was happy to welcome the
new Federation President. Sr. Luis
Spairani, and several other members from
Argentina. During their visit with us
they gave talks to our members and
II

public lectures. Just prior to the Con¬
gress, the Vice-President of the United
States Section. Mr. Felix Layton and Mrs.
Layton were our guests for a week before
proceeding on to Bogota. In August
it was our great pleasure to welcome Sr.
and Sra. Walter Ballesteros of Bogota
for a scries of lectures.

We believe we have been most fortunate
to have had so many visitors from other
countries, and it is our hope that the
various Sections in the new Federation
will have many occasions to welcome
visitors from other parts of Latin-
America. I believe it is vital to all
theosophical work to have the experience

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

of visiting members. This interchange
helps us all to realize more strongly that
each Section is not isolated but part of
a world-wide Society. This in turn may
help members to realize that sense of
unity which flows through the Society;
and the Sectional challenges, work, and
problems arc seen from that wider
perspective which in itself is an added
strength.

In July, the General Secretary and his
wife attended the Annual Convention and
Summer School of the United States

Section at “ Olcott ”, Wheaton.

We arc fortunate in having free radio
time each week for Spanish language
broadcasts on theosophical subjects.
These broadcasts continue to reach many
people as we know from letters received.
Wc have given copies of our free pamphlets
to Sections in South America. Book sales
in Spanish and English continue at a
steady rate.

Seymour D. Ballard,
General Secretary.

RUMANIA

No Report

YUGOSLAVIA

During the past year the main activities
in our Lodges and in the one Centre were
lectures and discussions. There is ever
more interest in short lectures and longer
discussions than vice versa. The lectures
must first be translated into our languages,
and this is done by the Presidents of the
Lodges, the Secretary of the T.S. and by
the General Secretary. There is increasing
interest in the Theosophical teachings
and many new young and older people
come to listen to the lectures. The summit
of propagating the Theosophical ideas
was reached on July 2nd when the
Ambassador of India in Beograd intro¬
duced the General Secretary to the public
gathered in the Youth Home. Beograd,
with the following words: “ Mrs. Gruba-
cevic. a Thcosophist, will talk to you about
India and Indian Culture—Jain and
Buddhist Temples,” and added: “She
knows more about my country than I.”

And I seized the opportunity to speak
about the ideas that inspired the great
architects to build such grandiose temples.
These ideas included also the teachings
of Karma, Reincarnation and so on.
The result of this talk was that some young
laidcs wanted a meeting with me. and
they have already received theosophical
literature from me.

In the year under report, the Gen.
Secretary visited all Lodges and the
Centre, gave lectures, and visited also the
single members living in different places,
those in hospital, sick, and in pensioner
homes.

From 8-15th August, the Gen. Secretary
represented the Yugoslav Section at the
27th European Congress in Paris and led
a study group with the theme: “ What is
the Nature of Karma?” She also gave
a lecture to the Lodge in Dusseldorf, and
held many meetings with individuals and

CEYLON

groups who were very fond of listening
to the theosophical teachings. She at¬
tended the Summer School in Pichl and
was charged with a study group. Three
other members of the Yugoslav Section
also attended the School, and at the
close came a group of four members
from our country. The family Benko,
living in Australia, who visited their
country after many years of absence,
attended the Paris Congress, for a few
days, and part of the Summer School
in Pichl.

The Annual Convention was held in
Ljubljana. Dalmatinova 9/11, where the
weekly meetings of the Lodge Sluzcnjc-
Servicc take place, on 25th October
1970. The theme of the Convention
was: “ Become what you arc" and the
Gen. Secretary stressed the necessity to

open one’s mind to the inner resources
and look there for the true inspirations
for one’s life. The Vice-President, Prof.
Djuro Robotic, spoke on “ Our Theme,
Theosophy ” and also gave suggestions
for the future work.

Each Lodge has a library with many
valuable books in foreign languages, some
of which are translated into our languages.

The Theosophical Order of Service
has contributed in the year under report
money to the Tibetan children, the Oleott
School, to some members of our Section,
to Peru and another place in our country
that suffered from the earthquake.

The Executive Committee met twice in
the last year.

Mila Grubacevic,
General Secretary.

CEYLON

Subsequent to the re-constitution and
resuscitation of some of the Lodges
which were dormant for various reasons,
as stated in the previous annual report
for the year ended 30.9.1970, there has
been a revival in the activities of the
National Society in Ceylon. There arc
seven Lodges with a total membership
of 63.

Besant Day, which fell on October 1st
was commemorated with a symposium
on the “ Life and Work of Mrs. Annie
Besant ’’, sponsored by Lotus Lodge,
which was held on October 13th, 1970
at 5.30 p.m. at Pedris Villa, Alfred Place,
Colombo, and was presided over by
Mrs. E. Roversi Perera. President of
Lotus Lodge. Pasyala.

The following members participated in
the symposium

Mr. N. K. Choksy, Q. C., former
National President, introduced the subject
and also spoke on his personal impres¬
sions of Mrs. Besant’s dynamic personality
and great eloquence as an orator.

Miss H. Roversi, Secretary of Lotus
Lodge, read out some selections from the
works of Mrs. Besant, particularly from
her book entitled Spiritual Life for the
Man of the World.

Mr. K. Nakalingam, A.P.M.G., Presi¬
dent of Satyamargh Lodge, spoke about
the political and educational aspects of
the invaluable work which was done
by Mrs. Besant in the cause of Home Rule
for India, and in Hindu education by
founding colleges and a University for
Hindu students.

Mrs. Theja Gunawardhana, R. W. M.
of Tri-Ratna Lodge of the International

THE REPORT OF THE IHEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Order of Co-Masons, spoke of the great
contribution made by Mrs. Besant to
the Theosophical movement throughout
the world, and in particular regarding her
intimate association with the Esoteric
Section of the T. S.

Mr. G. P. Ariyaratnc, M.A., former
President of Vasantha Lodge, and retired
Principal of Sri Palee Institute. Horana,
who I regret to mention has since passed
away, contributed an article which was
read on his behalf. He described his
personal experiences as a teacher in the
Besant School in India, where Mrs.
Besant selected him for a scholarship
at the Hindu University at Banaras.

Mr. K. Shanmugam, Advocate,
President of Vasantha Lodge, recalled
the visit of Mrs. Besant to London. He
was present at a lecture delivered by
her during that period, when he was a
law-student in England and resided
at a students' hostel maintained by the
Theosophical Society.

Foundation day, November 17th 1970,
was commemorated with a meeting which
was held at the Girl Guides Headquarters
Hall, Edinburgh Crescent, Colombo,
presided over by our National President,
Mr. D. L. F. Pcdris, at which members
of the public were also present.

At this public meeting, Mr. M. R.
Unni Nayar, B. Sc., (Eng.), President of
the Lanka Kriya Babaji Yoga Sangha,
delivered a lecture on “ 1 he Science and
Practice of Raja Yoga—the l irst Stage,
Yama ”.

The National Secretary, Mr. F. H. P.
Joseph, read some extracts of great
interest contained in an article contributed
to The Theosophist magazine by the
International President, Mr. N. Sri Ram.

The National President, in his address
of welcome mentioned that our members
are united by their approval of the Objects
of the Theosophical Society; by their
wish to remove religious antagonisms and

to draw together men and women of
goodwill, whatever their religious opinions
may be; and by their desire to study
truths and to share the results of their
study with others.

Taking advantage of the visit to Ceylon
of Mr. John Coats. President of the
World Federation of Young Thcosophists,
arrangements were made to hold a two-day
Convention on February 16th and 17th,
Adyar Day.

A meeting of the General Council was
also held on 16th February at 4 p.m. at
Girl Guide Headquarters Hall, for the
purpose of election of Oflicc-bcarcrs for
a period of three years.

This was followed by a Social at which
members and their guests were present
to meet our Guest-speaker, Mr. John
Coats.

The following Oflicc-bcarcrs were un¬
animously re-elected for a period of three
years

National President, Mr. D. L. F. Pedris;
National Vice-President, Mr. N. K.
Choksy, Q. C.; National Lecturer, Mr.
F. Rustomjcc, J.P., U.M., Solicitor;
National Secretary, Mr. F. H. P. Joseph;
National Treasurer, Mr. M. Canaga-
rctnam. Accountant, Land Development
Department, Colombo; Custodian of the
Society's Property and Librarian, Mr.
A. B. E. dc Silva; Assistant Secretary,
Mr. C. V. Wigncswaran, B.A., LL.B.,
Lecturer. Ceylon Law College, Proctor
and Notary Public; Honarary Auditor
for the ensuing year, Mr. S. Subramanian.
Registered Auditor, Retired Assistant
Commissioner of the Department of
Inland Revenue. Colombo; Members of
the Executive Committee:- Messrs F.
Rustomjcc. A. B. E. dc Silva. A. Sclva-
nayagam. Mrs. E. Rovcrsi Pcrcra, and
Mrs. Theja Gunawardhana.

The opening of the Convention took
place thereafter with an invocation and
an address of welcome by the National

CEYLON

President. The Guest-speaker, Mr. John
Coats delivered the Convention lecture.
The closing address and a vote of thanks
to the lecturer were by Mr. F. Rustomjee,
National Lecturer.

The public meeting and commemoration
of the passing away of Col. H. S. Oleott,
was held at Oleott Hall, Ananda College,
Colombo, on February 17th at 4.30 p.m.
presided over by Mr. Thomas Amara-
suriya. President of the Colombo Buddhist
Theosophical Society.

Mr. John Coats delivered the public
lecture and other speakers who paid
their tributes to the work and memory
of Col. Oleott wcrc:-His Excellency Dr.
Robert Strausz-Hupc, American Ambas¬
sador in Ceylon. Mr. M. Vincent Pcrcra,
the Mayor of Colombo, and Mr. N. K.
Choksy, former National President of the
Theosophical Society.

Messages were also read on behalf
of the Hon'blc A. Ratnayakc, President
of the Senate. Dr. S. Karunaratnc, Sec¬
retary of the Oleott Commemoration
Society, and Dr. G. P. Malalasckcra,
President, All-Ceylon Buddhist Congress.

A meeting of the Theosophical Society
was held on 26th March at 5.45 p.m. at
Girl Guides Headquarters Hall, when
there was a tape-recorded lecture by Mr.
J. Krishnamurti on “The New Mind”,
which was made possible by the kind
courtesy of the Krishnamurti Centre of
Ceylon.

There was a break in the activities of
the National Society for several months
following the disturbances resulting from
the Insurgents’ outbreak of violence and
lawless actions, with the consequent decla¬
ration of a state of emergency and a curfew

which was only recently lifted completely.
Since conditions have reverted to normal,
there has been a welcome renewal in
the activities of the Lodges and in the
Section.

A Group Discussion organised by the
National Society, was held on 25th
September at 5.30 p.m. at Besant Flail,
Peterson Lane, Colombo, and the subject
was: Introductory Talks and Demonstra¬
tions of Yoga Asanas.

Those who participated in this Group
discussion were Mr. M. R. Unni Nayar,
B.Sc. (Eng.), Dr. P.A.P. Joseph. F.R.C.S
(Eng), Surgeon, General Hospital, Mr.
F. H. P. Joseph. The demonstrations
were carried out by devotees of the
Lanka Kriya Babaji Yoga Sanga in
Colombo.

I have to record with much regret the
passing on of Mr. Ben J. Thiedeman, who
was our National Treasurer for many
years. I have also to record with equal
regret the passing on of Mr. G. P. Ariya-
ratne, M.A., to which reference has been
made in this report. The late Mr. Ariya-
ratnc and his wife were extremely helpful
in organising several of our Annual
Conventions at the Sri Palcc Institute,
Horana, of which Mr. Ariyaratnc was
the Principal. His widow was also a
member of the staff of that Institute.
Our deepest sympathies go out to the
bereaved members of their two families.

We look forward with confidence to
the continued activity of the Lodges and
National Society with the assistance of
every member of the Society.

D. L. F. Pkdris,
General Secretary.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

GREECE

The Greek Section of the Thcosophical
Society has been working very regularly
during the whole past year.

The number of members in the year
under report is 197.

A very outstanding member of our

CENTRAL

In accordance with the established
regulations I wish to inform you as
to the activities of this Section during
the year from October I, 1970 to Sept.
30, 1971. Our Section, because of its
international character, for it comprises
six (6) countries—Guatemala, El Salvador,
Honduras. Nicaragua. Costa Rica and
Panama —is somewhat disconnected, due
to the fact that these arc different nations,
with dividing borderlines that cannot be
crossed freely, and which require pass¬
ports to go from one to the other.

Conscious of the need to bring together
the groups from the different countries,
the system of a rotating General Sec¬
retaryship of two-year duration in each
country was established. The system has
rendered good results, because now we
know each other personally, and we inter¬
change ideas every two years in our annual
conventions, which arc carried out in a
different country. That has meant better
understanding, more friendship and
cordial relations between the groups, and
therefore, identification of the whole
Central American family through its
lodges, inter-related by means of its
General Secretaryship.

Currently, in Central America there is
an economic integration process by means
of a Common Market initiated ten (10)
years ago. There arc, besides, intentions
of achieving a cultural Central American
integration, and therefore, our Thcosoph¬
ical Society has a great opportunity to guide

Section, the President of the Lodge
Minerva, Brother Joann ides passed away
after a short illness. This means a very
great loss for our Section.

C. M BLISS AROPOULOS,
Genera / Secretary.

AMERICA

all of these integrations towards a common
goal, to wit. a spiritual integration that
makes possible the brotherhood so neces¬
sary for the understanding between men.

12 New Members .—During the period
12 new members joined. Therefore, the
total membership of the section is one
hundred and ten (110).

Sister Esther de Mezerville, from Virya
Lodge, San Jose, Costa Rica, one of the
most outstanding workers and former
Secretary General of the Central American
Section, passed away recently.

There were no new lodges in the section,
therefore the same ten lodges continue
in existence, as follows: 2 in Guatemala,
2 in San Salvador, 1 in Honduras, 2 in
Nicaragua, 2 in Costa Rica and 1 in
Panama.

The work carried out consists of ses¬
sions of study, using the resources avail¬
able in the lodges. Due to the Annual
Convention held in Managua, Nicaragua
in the past month of November, three
public lectures were offered on important
subjects and there was a good attendance
by the general public.

From February 28 to March 4, 1971,
the first Summer School of the Central
American Section was held in Costa
Rica with great success, for delegates
from several countries assisted, and the
Secretary General from Argentina, Luis
Spairani, also was present.

Benvenuto Martinez Gutierrez,
General Secretary.

THE PHILIPPINES

PARAGUAY

Dissolved

THE PHILIPPINES

Our Objectives—We have reported
before a three-pronged objective: improve¬
ment of our physical work-center, the
headquarters and its needs; stimulation
of fresh interest in and increased knowl¬
edge of Theosophy; and popularizing the
teaching, not only by bringing it to a
wider segment of the population, but also
by relating it to the needs of the present.

The first object has been reasonably
carried out with unexpected and very
generous help from members and friends.
The center is still, however, a far cry
from our projections, and must of neces¬
sity keep on undergoing changes if it is
to be a really efficient and more effective
center of theosophical activities. Gifts
that have been received to improve the
building have already been acknowledged,
and the latest will be mentioned here later
on.

Turning now to the second and third
aspects of our objective—the really vital
areas—we found that if we were to be
“up and doing”, an acupuncture treat¬
ment was badly needed. We had no
idea where these 960 acupuncture points
were, but wc made sure we got the best
doctor there was! Like a patient miracu¬
lously resuscitated, the Section has doubled
its strength, it is “ up and about ”, and
the good “ doctor ” was in the person
of Mr. Geoffrey Hodson, who with Mrs.
Hodson helped us to our feet.

The School of The Wisdom .—Easily the
most significant event in the whole
memory of the Section was the three-
months theosophical course, entitled
“ The School of the Wisdom ”, held from

January to April this year and conducted
by Mr. Hodson. It was the culmination
of two long years of planning and hard
work and more than proved its worth
in gold. Glorious if hectic, inspiring and
tremendously stimulating, it kept every¬
one on their toes, three days in a week,
two hours per day. Besides this, our
beloved guests gave three well-attended
public lectures in the big National Library
at the Luneta, plus other unscheduled
talks to different groups. They were
much sought out for interviews and
featured extensively in three subsequent
issues of a prestigious magazine, the
weekly Philippines Free Press , and
in another weekly magazine, too.
Panorama. They were requested to speak
on radio and appear on TV. There
were 85 cnrollces and attendance was
swelled by a constant stream of observers
and visitors who filled the T.S. Hall to
overflowing. During the Course, the
membership list nearly doubled, while
the sale of an unprecedented number of
books, particularly those of Mr. Hodson
kept the Bookshop sale-counter very busy.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful
results of the coming of the Hodsons was
the new respect and warm cordiality the
catholic world accorded The Theosophical
Society and its members. Charmed,
captivated by Mr. Hodson’s clear and
inspiring talks, and Mrs. Hodson’s ex¬
position on “ The World Mother”, large
sections of the Catholic hierarchy were
won grudgingly to attending their lectures.
A sight to remember was the tear-
stained faces of nuns of different Orders

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

listening enraptured to his talk on "The
Christ Indwelling" and afterwards im¬
portuning him for more talks.

The Theosophical Fellowship Group .—
An offshoot of the great interest generated
in Theosophy by The School of the Wisdom
was the creation by the General Secretary,
of the Theosophical Fellowship Group.
This is to be an arm of the Society with
particular emphasis on organizing future
Schools of the Wisdom. Composed of
former cnrollees of the School, the Group
has for its officials: Mr. Jouquin Cunanan,
President; Judge Onofrc Villaluz, Vice-
President; Mr. Angel Reyes, Treasurer;
Mr. Atty Mario Zapata. Secretary and Mr.
Vicente Reyes, Press-relations Officer. An
initial project of the Group for this year
is a Follow-up Seminar on subjects taken
up by Mr. Hodson, which is calculated
to last fifteen sessions, with some subjects
given extra coverage (two or three
sessions). Mr. Domingo Argcnte, Mrs.
Julian Pineda and Mrs. Cleo Z. Gregorio
arc members of the Resource Panel.

The Annual Convention. —A clear-cut
direction for change and transition was
best exemplified in the choice of the theme
of the Section's Annual Convention held
last November 29 and 30. For the first
time, we had an “ imported ” guest,
Mr. John B. S. Coats, who arrived a few
days earlier. His interesting lecture,
44 Implications of Brotherhood” pointed
out the way. To the newly re-built
headquarters building which he blessed
earlier that day, came a capacity crowd
of more than 200 guests, members and
friends who filled the Hall to overflowing.
Capping the marathon activities of the
day was the induction of 53 new members
for the year. It was a candlelight cere¬
mony officiated at in the evening by
Mr. Coats. The next day’s outing was
held in a mountain resort in Antipolo,
Rizal where a big group of members
gathered towards the afternoon to hear

our guest’s lecture, 44 The Dharnia of a
Thcosophist ’’. The many affectionate
and loyal friends won by Mr. Coats attest
to the great success of his visit.

In Search of Peace .—Where strife and
suffering and turmoil persist, it is but
natural that there are those who arc deeply
concerned and bend their efforts towards
peace. 44 The World Congress of Univer¬
sity Presidents” was started and headed
by our former President, Dr. Benito F.
Reyes, now President of Pamantasan
Lungsod ng Maynila. It had for its
week-long convention the theme, 44 World
Peace through Education ’*. Meeting at
the Philamlifc Auditorium, the prestigious
gathering of world educators took the
initial steps towards the preparation for
world peace through the medium of edu¬
cation. “ The world problem is an indi¬
vidual problem and thus is legitimately
the problem of education,” said Dr.
Reyes.

In pursuit of the same elusive dove of
peace, but only in a very quiet and silent
way. was a little piece, 44 An Appeal for
Peace,” written by the General Secretary at
the height of the consternation and appre¬
hension after the Plaza Miranda bombing
last August 21st, which caught the sym¬
pathy of ecumenical groups. It was an
appeal for sanity in actuations and aware¬
ness of one’s responsibility 44 not to kill ”
with words and thoughts, and to sow only
the seeds of love, of goodwill and peace.
The still warm interest in theosophical
teachings generated by Mr. Hodson was
stirred anew. Translated also into Philo-
pino. the little piece served as an opening
wedge for many dialogues with diverse
groups including close catholics. Up to
this time of writing, it is still helping to
enlarge our contacts with brothers who
otherwise would have clammcd-up up on
mention of Theosophy. Thus dialogues
with closely indoctrinated groups like
the 44 cursillistas ” were made possible.

THE PHILIPPINES

There was the “ Ultreya ” talk we gave
at the Lady of Fatima Church in Marivelcs,
another talk with an ecumenical group at
the Y.W.C.A., another with some artists,
another meeting with a small group of
protestant ministers, with the head of the
Ellinwood church, a conference with the
head of the Archdiocese Center of Pope
Pius XII, a meeting with a group of top-
executives of the Tri- Media News.
Some of these dialogues have been
broadcast too.

Theosophy on the Air .—Even before this,
however, there were opportunities to air
aspects of the teachings over Radio
Veritas (the Cardinal’s own Radio Station).
Invited to present some basic theosophical
teachings over the radio, we slanted a
number of these programs to allow some
members with me to mention the work of
the Society and to discuss present national
problems in the light of Theosophy.
These dialogues are gaining acceptance and
we hope these free exposures of the
teachings will continue. As we arc led
to believe, we will be allowed longer
hours, too.

The Theosophical Order of Service .—
Concerned as everyone else is with the
proliferation of poverty, disorder and
suffering evident everywhere, we felt the
need of stemming this tide of horror by
calling for more active participation
in the Theosophical Order of Service.
The response was not earth-shaking, but
earnest and sincere workers came forward
and found a ready niche in the wide-open
wounds of need. Working in cooperation
with an allied group of non-members,
Mrs. Mydee Z. Reyes had for her project
the pulling down of prices of prime com¬
modities by linking the consumer directly
to the producer. This movement has
been called “ The Buying Club **. Ever
since the last election and the promulga¬
tion of the floating-rate for our country’s
currency, every housewife, and bread-
12

winner for that matter, has been groaning
under the escalating prices of foodstuffs
and the dwindling value of the peso.
The Buying Club has volunteers who form
themselves wherever they can congregate,
usually in the parish church, as a
“ Clearing House ”, where they can dis¬
pense and procure commodities at very
much reduced prices since here there is
no channeling through a middle-man.
The middle-man. however, is not actually
deprived of a livelihood, since we can
still handle the merchandise with a ten-
percent commission, without the extra
expenses of advertising and other expenses,
which can be handled by the volunteer.;.

A project to put up a Free Medical clinic
on the ground-floor of Headquarters, did
not eventuate. Instead, a prominent
doctor, who is the director of the hos¬
pital, has suggested that volunteers could
offer their services as hospital volunteers
in the government Free Hospital, the
Ospital Ng Maynila. This was followed,
and a group of students in social service
under Mrs. Acu arc now helping out in
this way.

Although it is still in the blue-print
stage, but already with a few ardent
adherents, we arc organizing in collabora¬
tion with a catholic priest, and members
of an ecumenical group, a movement for
peace. At time of writing, the movement
is being considered under the name
“ Ladies' Movement for Peace ” or LAMP.
The principal objective, is to propagate
Right Thought and Right Speech—an
offshoot of the “ Appeal for Peace ”,
Since many of the ladies interested are
already engaged in community projects,
they can incorporate the need for employ¬
ing the mind and speech only for
constructive purposes.

There is of course the ” lone-ranger ”
work being done by individual members
along the line of direct help to those who
arc in need, suffering or the bereaved.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

sending out copies of To Tnose Who
Mourn. There is also the direct in¬
volvement in the current Constitutional
Convention, instituting dialogues with
Con-con delegates so that theosophical
concepts may illumine the minds of those
presently involved in reframing the
basic laws of the land.

The Theosophical Library and Bookshop.
—The new Library is barely a year old
and has on its shelves some 660 books.
It wishes to acknowledge donations of
some 200 volumes from the following:
The Theosophical Publishing House in
Adyar, the Quest Books of America, the
Thomas Jefferson Cultural Center, the
Seattle Lodge of Washington. Mr. John
B. S. Coats, and Mr. and Mrs. Orlando
Romero for a Webster’s .Yew World
Dictionary. The Library has on its roll
of borrowers 90 card-holders, 40 students
holding special privilege cards, and an esti¬
mated 400 readers who have made use
of the library books. Total income of the
Library for the year is P. 1.227.00 which
money was used up to defray part of the
obligations incurred in stocking the Book¬
shop. With the coming of the Hodsons,
the Bookshop had an unprecedented sale
of books. Much credit for this goes to
the Librarian. Mr. Tony Francisco.

Donations— The Society has been the
rccepient of donations in cash from many
friends and members, and since these
have been already acknowledged, names
arc not included here. Recent gifts,
however, include thousands of Information
Leaflets and 90 mimeo copies of At the
Feet of the Master from J. Cunanan;
free copies of Study Courses from Eng¬
land sent by the General Secretary, Mr.
Geoffrey Farthing; large photographs of
Dr. George Arundale and Mr. C. Jinaraja-
dasa for framing in lodge rooms and at
Headquarters; the use of two good type¬
writers from Mr. Angel Reyes and Judge
Onofre Villaluz; and a brand-new

Ronco mimeographing machine from
world famous violinist, Mr. Gilopcz
Kabayao.

An appeal made by the Theosophical
Society in Geneva for contributions to the
Pakistani Refugees’ Fund netted P. 90.00
which was sent to the Theosophical Society
Assistance to Bengal, Geneva, 12.

Changes. —The General Meeting con¬
vened last August 15 voted to retain
the present rate of P. 12.00 annual dues,
this despite the great disparity in the
value of the peso now due to the “ floating-
rate ” of exchange and spiralling of prices.
Convention and election of officers for
the next two years has been moved up to
the second Sunday of May. Also the
membership will elect only the seven
members of the Board of Directors, who
then will choose from among themselves
the officials for the next two years.

Programs at Headquarters. —Two note¬
worthy public lectures given on the
platform by invited guests were: “The
Constitutional Convention—an Insider’s
Point of View ’’ by Dr. George Viterbo,
Constitution Convention Delegate from
Eoxas city, and “How the Filipino Family
Develops the Child’s Philosophy of Life ”
by Mrs. Preciosa S. Solivcn, directress
and founder ofMontcssori Schools, Opera¬
tion Brotherhood International in the
Philippines. Both lectures sparked off
a spirited question and answer session.
Inter-lodge programs included: “White
Lotus Day ’’ celebration, sponsored by
the Manila Lodge with a talk on “ H.P.B.,
in Retrospect ’’ by the General Secretary;
a program based on the life and writings
of Dr. Jose Rizal, by the Rizaliana Lodge,
with a beautiful rendition of the hero’s
great poem, “Mi Ultimo Adios”, as
written in Spanish, then translated into
Filipino and English. The Balintawak
Lodge had a unique musical composition
on Brotherhood as worked out by its
lodge members led by Miss Adita Reyes.

COLOMBIA

Other public lectures were on the sub¬
jects: “Yoga, What Is It?", J. Guna-
nan; "The Law of Sacrifice ", D Reyes;
“ The Laws of the Higher Life “, E.
Tayao.

Membership .—The Section has nearly
doubled its membership. We have 218
members in the active list as compared
to the 128 of last year. One death has
diminished our ranks. Although there
is a large increase in new members, many
old members arc still to make good their
promise to pay their arrears before this
deadline and so cannot be included in the
active list. This might be attributed to
the provision that a member can be
in arrears within a two-year period and
be given consideration till the end of the
year.

T. S. Visitors .—Aside from Mr. and
Mrs. Geoffrey Hodson and Mr. John
B. S. Coats, other visitors from abroad
who have graced the Headquarters with
their presences arc: Mrs. Scctha Ncela-
kantan. Librarian from Adyar on
her way home after a two-year stint at the
Hcaquartcrs of the American Section in
Olcott; Mr. Fred Mawudcko. former
Presidential Agent for Ghana, Africa;
and Mr. Manfred Mcy, after two years
stay at the International Headquarters
in Adyar, on his way to Tokyo.

Summing up .—We feel we are making
some progress, however negligible com¬
pared to the mountain-moving ahead.
It is, however, encouraging to have in
our ranks new members, who arc better
equipped and eager to help in the Work.
“To ennoble and enlighten the hearts
and minds of men": this is the glorious
if never-ending task, the first step of which
needs men and women who arc themselves
living the ennobled life. A tremendous
push was given to us by the powerful
presence of the great occultist, Geoffrey
Hodson, and his wife Sandra, and the
realization of the School of the Wisdom
under him. Also, we arc thankful and
amazed at the measure of cordiality,
even warmth, we are enjoying from a
usually cold and unsympathetic Catholic
world. The present chaotic conditions
in our country seem to indicate where
and how the favorable forces generated
can be utilized, and this is the wide area
serviced by the Thcosophical Order of
Service. It is here, in the very midst
of hopelessness, suffering and despair,
that more than ever the work for Peace
and Brotherhood is most needed, if the
Society is to bring Light in a world so
sadly immersed in darkness.

Ci.eo Z. Gregorio,

General Secretary.

COLOMBIA

The Columbian Section continues work¬
ing actively. The most important event
of the year was the IV Inter-American
Thcosophical Congress in Bogota,
attended by delegates of nearly all
American countries. During that Con¬
gress the foundation of the Inter-American
Thcosophical Federation took place,
approved by all delegates. As the first
President and Vice-President, Brs. Luis

Spairani and Juan Vinas who are
indefatigable Thcosophical workers in
Argentine, were elected. We are sure the
Inter-American Thcosophical Federation
will prove most helpful for Thcosophical
development in America.

Br. Walter Ballesteros continues editing
the quarterly Seleccion Teosofica dis¬
tributed free of charge not only in
Colombia, but also in other American

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

countries and Spain. Great stress was
laid upon the movement of Young
Thcosophists, organized and working ef¬
ficiently in Bogota and Medellin. The
work with groups of children including
the Round Table, plays, music and songs
and graduate teaching of Theosophy,
show marvellous results. The weekly
meetings of family groups arc continued

with the purpose of strengthening the
family by seeking a true understanding
of the dharma of its members. Public
lectures continue to be held each month.
Actually courses in Raja Yoga, Esoteric
Christianity and comparative study of
the great religions arc being held.

Gabriel Burgos,

General Secretary.

EAST AFRICA

Membership. —It is rather astonishing
that the East African Section has main¬
tained virtually the same strength of
membership during the year under report
despite our expectation that it would go
down below the number of 1000 due
to changing patterns of society taking
place in East Africa. Last year the num¬
ber was 1142 whereas the present number
as at 30-9-71 stands at 1132. While the
new admissions and rejoinings were 260,
lapses, transfers and deaths of members
amounted to 270. We established a new
Lodge at Miwani in Kenya, revived an
old Lodge at Tanga in Tanzania, and
opened two new Lodges at Mufulira and
Kabwe in Zambia. On the other hand,
we were obliged to close two Lodges in
Uganda at Kabala and Lugazi, and one
Lodge at Mwanza in Tanzania. This
means we have in all 23 Lodges at present
under the jurisdiction of the East African
Section. The Lodges at Nairobi, Dar-es-
Salaam, Kampala and Mblac arc the most
active and leading Branches, giving in¬
spiration and guidance to the other Lodges
in the surrounding regions where the
Regional Secretaries have been stationed.

Workers Training Camp at Mombasa .—
In October in the last phase of Mr. and
Mrs. A.R. Bakshi’s tour in East Africa, a
Workers Training Camp was organized
and held at Mombasa. It was under the

auspices of the Unity Lodge and was from
9th to 12th October when about 40
members from 6 lodges in Kenya and
Tanzania took active part under the able
guidance of Mr. Bakshi. The Guest
Couple was then given a hearty send
off for their return journey to Bombay
by sea. Their excellent services for over
four months to this Section were well
appreciated.

Delegates to the 95th Convention at
Adyar.— In December 1970, a good num¬
ber of delegates from East Africa atten¬
ded the 95th Convention at Adyar while
they were in India during their holidays.
Amongst them were: Mr. A.B. Patel,
the General Secretary; Mr. C. G. Patel,
the National Secretary and his wife; Mr.
Babubhai M. Patel, the Hon. Secretary of
the Nairobi Lodge; Mr. Motibhai M.
Patel of Sitaram Lodge, Kcricho; Mr. and
Mrs. Dhirubhai G. Patel, Mr. and Mrs.
Kanabar and Mr. and Mrs. Suryakant
D. Patel from Dar-es-Salaam Lodge. All
of them thoroughly enjoyed the spiritual
atmosphere of Adyar during the Conven¬
tion proceedings. The General Secretary
took the opportunity of attending the
long sessions of the General Council
Meetings.

Miss I.H. Hoskins' visit to East Africa.
—In February 1971. Miss I. H. Hoskins,
the Director of Studies for the School of

EAST AFRICA

the Wisdom for the sessions in 1970-71,was
invited by the East African Section to come
for three months on her way to England,
and a long itinerary was arranged for her
visits to Lodges and places at: Nairobi.
Embu, Fort hall, Eldoret, Kcricho, Kisumu,
Nakuru and Mombasa in Kenya; Mbalc,
Lira, Soroti, Kakira, Jinja. Kampala and
Mbarara in Uganda; Mufulira, Lusaka,
Kabwe, Luanshya and Ndola in Zambia;
and Tanga, Moshi, Arusha and Dar-cs-
Salaam in Tanzania. She was also shown
the wild life of East Africa at Tree-Top,
Murchison Falls, Lake Manyara, Ngoron-
goro Crater and the Bird Sanctuary
at Nakuru. She was accompanied by
the General Secretary, Mr. A.B. Patel,
throughout her tour during which she con¬
ducted Study Classes at Nairobi, Mbale.
Kampala and Dar-cs-Salaam on The Secret
Doctrine and Viveka Chudamani , delivered
public lectures, held Members’ Meetings
and addressed school children of differ¬
ent Grades at most of the visited Lodges.

21st Annual Convention of the East
African Section.— This was held at Easter
1971, at Mombasa under the auspices of
the Unity Lodge (Host-Lodge), and about
250 delegates from 15 Lodges at¬
tended. Miss I. H. Hoskins was the
main Guest-Speaker and she delivered
three Convention Lectures: ‘‘Three
Keys to Life Problems ”, “ Why Were
You Born? ” and “ The Way of Freedom
And Happiness The Unity Lodge mem¬
bers provided free of charge boarding and
lodging to all the delegates for three days
during the Convention at the great sacrifice
and service of the Host-Lodge members.

Study Class at Mbale. —At the invita¬
tion of the Mount Elgon Lodge, Mbale
in Uganda. Messrs. H. M. Chhaya and
A. B. Patel held a Study Class for nine
days in July 1971, on the important Thco-
sophical subjects, and there was a good
response from the members with a regular
presence of 35 to 40 members a night.

Such a study class was the first of its
kind at Mbale and it gave some encourage¬
ment to the members to study theosophical
books.

Study Class at Lira.—A similar Study
Class at Lira in Uganda was organized
by the Lira Lodge when Messrs. Chhaya
and A. B. Patel went to Lira from
Nairobi and based their study on First
Principles of Theosophy. About 35 mem¬
bers regularly attended the Class, including
a great number of lady members, in two
sessions daily for a full week in Sept. *71.
They were very much impressed with the
deep wisdom of Theosophy, and the
Lodge was re-vitalized thereby with admis¬
sion of some new members.

Theosophical Society's Stall at the
Agricultural Show of Kenya. —This year
we made a new experiment of publicising
Theosophy and the Theosophical Society
and its branches by hiring a stall
at the Agricultural Show of Kenya at
Jamhuri Park, Nairobi, from 28-9-71 for
five days. We displayed Theosophical
Books for sale and distributed pamphlets
on Theosophical topics, with a decorative
show of large Theosophical charts, posters
and photographs of the Presidents and
leaders of the Theosophical Society.
On the whole it proved very successful
on account of the devoted services of
the many active members of the Nairobi
Lodge. The team spirit in such an enter¬
prise was simply excellent. At the Stall
we exhibited and sold Theosophical Books
worth Shs. 700/-; and a few African
members were admitted.

T.O.S. Activities in East Africa .—
Various kinds of services to the poor
and needy persons in the local areas are
being regularly rendered by the Branches
at Dar-es-Salaam. Nairobi, Kampala,
Mbale, Kcricho, Eldoret, Nakuru and
Embu as in the past.

A. B. Patel,

General Secretary.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

PAKISTAN

No Report

MALAYSIA

No Report

NORTHERN IRELAND FEDERATION

The Thcosophical Society in Northern
Ireland presented attractive public pro¬
grams of talks and discussions in
Belfast. Our only lecturing visitor from
outside the province was Dr. Shila
Ransom, who was our guest speaker at
our annual convention in June, 1971.
Summer and early autumn produced a
variety of bomb incidents in our immediate
vicinity, but no damage was done to the
Society’s premises. Because of such

incidents and a lack of public transport
in the evenings, public meetings were
changed in the autumn to afternoons.
Attendances were well maintained.
Several meetings were held in Bangor.
Members’ meetings continued in the
evenings through the year. Total
membership at 30th September, 1971,
stood unchanged at 47.

Hugh Shearman,
Organizing Secretary.

VIETNAM

Our Board is composed of:

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hai, General Secretary;
Miss Luu Thi Dau, 1st Assistant General
Secretary; Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, 2nd
Assistant General Secretary; Miss Le
Hong Hanh, Secretary; Mr. Nguyen Tan
Tai. Vice-Secretary; MissTran Thi Hoanh,
Treasurer; Mr. Le Van Hai. Vice-
Treasurer; Mr. Nguyen Van Huan, Mr.
Truong Khuong, Mr. Nguyen Tien Loi,
Mr. Ha To Thuan, Miss Pham Thi Phi,
Councillors.

I am very glad to report with utmost
satisfaction the steady progress in general
of the Viet Nam Section activities during
the year 1971. Looking at the statistical
figures of the Lodges and the strength

of membership, the Section, in my view,
occupies a fine place in the Society.

During the year 1971. the main thought
which occupied our minds, was one of
preparation for the Centenary of the
Thcosophical Society. Most of the
members try to live thcosophically. They
arc encouraged by their leaders to tread
the Path, and understand the supreme
purpose of the Society. 1 hope that their
fine work done with sincerity and
enthusiasm in making Theosophy known
to more and more people will make the
Thcosophical Society the most beautiful
and helpful expression for humanity.

Membership— The total strength of
members in good standing on the roll

VIETNAM

as at 30th September 1971 amounted to
947 as against 852 last year giving a net
increase of 95. There were 7 deaths,
no lapsings and no resignations.

To increase membership .—We all desire
good workers, those who always stand
for the Theosophical Society—in joy
or in sadness. For that, we must have
a great number of members, and we choose
the best ones among them. We plan to
encourage each member to bring to the
Society during a year one person—a
relative or friend. The member must
set an example by his or her excellent
conduct and comprehension of truths,
as example is worth more than mere
talk.

Lodges .—The Section has 15 Lodges.

The Kicm Ai Lodge continues to be
the most important centre of Theosophical
work in Viet Nam. It has public lectures,
weekly study classes, members meetings
and publishes a magazine Anh Dao for
the T. S. The Lodge has a well furnished
library containing many books. It has
also a beautiful building with a lecture
hall which is very much in demand.

The Dug Hanh (or Fine Conduct)
Lodge is the next important Lodge in
the country. This Lodge has only women
members but men participate in its
meetings. Its activities include public
lectures on Theosophy, weekly meetings
and discussions. It has also a well
stocked library of Theosophical and other
books. This Lodge has issued 9 booklets
for free distribution on The Key to Theoso¬
phy by Mmc. Blavatsky. translated into
Vietnamese.

The Phung Su (Service) Lodge (which
is the Youth Lodge) is the most active
Lodge in Viet Nam with dedicated
young members. There are weekly Sun¬
day lectures, courses and discussion.
Some members—young students—meet
daily at the office of their leader, Mr.
Francois Mylnc, to read Theosophical

books or lo work for the Lodge and for
the Section by doing typewriting, dupli¬
cating by roneo, mailing, etc.

The Young Theosophists have issued
for free distribution the following booklets
(translated into Vietnamese): (I ) Practical
Occultism (H. P. Blavatsky), (2) The
Disciple (H. P. Blavatsky), (3) The Original
Programme of the Theosophical Society
(H. P. Blavatsky), (4) Occultism (Annie
Bcsant), (5) The Maha-Chohan s Letter ,

(6) The Theosophical Movement and the
Masters of the Wisdom (C. Jinarajadasa),

(7) The Third Object of the Theosophical
Society (C. W. Lead beater) and (8) The
Golden Stairs by H. P. B. (Sydney A.
Cook).

The Tu Hi Lodge (or Compassion
Lodge), the Minh Trict Lodge and Saigon
Lodge are also active. Their members
gather for discussion meetings.

The Dinh Tuong Lodge and the Go
Cong Lodge (in the provinces of those
names) have courses and discussions every
two weeks. The other Lodges, Chon Ly
(at Hu6); Kien Giang. An Giang (at
Chau Doc); Bac Ai (at Tan Chau);
Long Xuyen, Duoi Chon Thay (at
Vinh Long); Vung Tau are also
active.

In brief, every Lodge is working.
Service to Lodges .—The Board sent
every month the Theosophical courses on
The Higher Mental Body (The Causal
Body), The Ancient Wisdom and The
Secret Doctrine. (translated into
Vietnamese by Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hai
or written by her) every month to the
members of each Lodge. That encour¬
aged the dormant Lodges to revive.

The work of reproducing leaflets in a
new and attractive format was continued
and has been done by the young members.
The Youth Lodge (about 110 members)
contributed actively to the work of the
Section. The young members arc enthusi¬
astic and ready to serve.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Headquarters activities. —Every Satur¬
day evening, members of two Lodges,
Tu Bi and Saigon, met in the audi¬
torium of the Headquarters to study
theosophical courses.

Every Sunday morning from 8.30 to
9.30, members of Dung Hanh Lodge
and Phung Su Lodge have meetings
where they discuss various subjects. From
10.00 to 11.00, also in the same place,
the members of the various Lodges come
together to attend the public lecture or
to study the courses on The Secret Doctrine
or The Higher Mental Body conducted
by Mr. Nguyen Thi Hai. Courses on
The Ancient Wisdom are conducted by
Miss Luu Thi Dau and Mr. Francois
Mylnc. From 11.00 to 12.00 o’clock,
there is discussion.

Headquarters Staff '.—In the office. I
was assisted by Miss Luu Thi Dau, 1st
Assistant General Secretary. She is a
good worker. Besides the daily, weekly
and monthly routine jobs, there is much
variety of work in the many departments
which makes the task interesting, if at
times a little exacting.

Publications.— We continue to issue
by ronco Talks on At the Feet of the
Master in two volumes, translated from
English into Vietnamese by Mrs. Nguyen
Thi Hai. This book has been given by
her to the Society.

We issued also 5,000 pamphlets Short
Explanations of Theosophy by Mr. Nguyen
Van Huan, for free distribution. The
Lodges An Giang and Long Xuycn
have published two small magazines for
free distribution.

Anniversaries. —We celebrated the 17th
of November, Wcsak Ceremony, White
Lotus Day and the birthday of Dr.
Annie Besant.

Convention. —Our 19th Convention was
held on April 1971 at our Headquarters
with about 160 attending. Besides the
usual business meetings, a symposium

was held on “Towards the Higher
Mental”. Delegates of all Lodges contri¬
buted. This gathering was a very inspir¬
ing one. The atmosphere w as harmonious
and brotherly. It is a channel, through
which those inner forces of love and beauty
and power and light must flow to aid in
the healing of the world.

The Convention was closed by a
fraternal tea-party at the Headquarters.

Summer School. —The Vietnamese Sec¬
tion Summer School was held at Pure
Heart Centre (at the sea-side at Vung
Tau) from 1st to 8th August 1971. There
were about 100 participants.

Each day began with a guided medita¬
tion then a lecture and discussion. Our
theme was “ Personality and Ego ”. The
meeting was a fraternal and inspiring
one. I do hope that the Summer School
will be the feature of every year in our
Section.

Theosophical Orphanage. —We have a
nice Orphanage with 50 children. It
works well as it did before. We get a
great deal of help from the Theosophical
Order of Service in Australia and in the
U.S.A. In September 1970, we received
as donation from the T. S. in Australia
a pretty microbus for our orphans. This
car helped us very much. We ex¬
press here our gratitude to this great
Section.

Travel.—Our General Secretary Mrs.
Nguyen Thi Hai was the Delegate of
our Section at the Congress of the French
Section which was held on the 8th August
1971. However she could not get the
visa in time and arrived in France late.
She has been in Holland (at Huizen) on
15th August, and saw John Coats,
Georges and Rachel Tripet and many
other great people. They all sent greet¬
ings to the Viet Nam Section and appreci¬
ated very much the true brotherhood
existing among the members of our
Section.

VIETNAM

Overseas visitors .—We were very happy
to receive in April 1971 the visit of Mr.
and Mrs. Geoffrey Hodson.

Mr. Hodson, an accomplished lecturer
and teacher, attracted large audi¬
ences (about 400 persons), many of
them young students. He guides them
into the deeper aspects of Theosophy.

The visit of Mr. Hodson helped in
giving impetus in this respect. I would
suggest that national lecturers be ex¬
changed from one Section to another. We
have found, in our experience, that visitors
from outside attract a larger audience
of the general public than the local
workers do. however talented, devoted
and persuasive they may be.

Thanks .—I would like to express here
—as in my last year—my deep apprecia¬
tion to my fellow-workers throughout the
Lodges and to all members for their good
co-operation, and ready assistance in all
matters connected with the work of the
Vict-Nam Section.

Our Initiatives—(a) In my last tour in
Europe (6th August to 30 September
1971), I have stated that everywhere,
our Society suffers from lack of money.
We could not raise the fees or make
commerce in our Society. So we plan
to make a ‘ Foundation * by borrowing
money without interest, from the rich
members or from sympathizers outside
the Section who want to do charitable
work.

Before the notary, we promise to repay
on terms, over 10 years, this loan which
we place in a bank at an interest of
22 % (the official interest in Viet Nam).
If we could borrow 10 million Piastres

(U. S. $ 1 is worth 275 VN $), we shall
have 220.000 Piastres of interest a month.
With this sum. the Section could do
everything. The Viet Nam Section is
trying to realise this Foundation which
will be called 4 Brotherhood Foundation*.
May the Masters help us!

(b) Courses of training for the leaders.
Everywhere in the world, the members
have some difficulties in choosing the
leaders working for the Section.

On my return from Europe, I intended
to form a course for training leaders.

This course is divided into two parts:

(1) Teaching how to manage the secre¬
tariat, how to do good work for our
Theosophical Society, etc... (practical
side).

(2) Teaching them to know the impor¬
tant side of Theosophy (like lecturing
on A Study in Consciousness by Mmc.
Annie Besant, already translated into
Vietnamese by Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hai).
We arc trying to realize this course for

the benefit of our Section. May the
Masters help us.

Conclusion .—In spite of the war in
our country, we try to be a channel for
the Ancient Wisdom. With our inner
conviction so deep and vital, our under¬
standing of the Masters' message, our
dedication to the Theosophical work, we
are able to help the Inner Government
of the world to lead humanity out of
its suffering, caused by ignorance, into
a new age of Truth. Brotherhood and
spiritual unfoldment.

Nguyen Thi Hai,
General Secretary.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

VENEZUELA

During the year three Lodges have been
active in Venezuela: two of them,
Blavatsky Lodge and Heracles Lodge, in
the city of Caracas, and the third one,
Leadbeatcr Lodge, in the city of Valencia.
The two first ones have held all their
weekly meetings regularly through the
whole year.

In July a new study center was inaugu¬
rated in Caracas, to attract and gather
people who may be interested in our
Theosophical teachings; this center is
under the leadership of a member of
Blavatsky Lodge, Mr. Carlos Blanco Rey.

At theT.S. quarters in Caracas we have
held our yearly celebrations, on Founda¬
tion Day, Adyar Day, White Lotus Day,
with several appropriate speeches at
each commemoration, and always with
good attendance and a very enthusiastic
audience.

During the year seven new members
have joined the T.S. in Venezuela. Be¬
sides, four members who had dropped
from our ranks have asked to be reinstated
and, accordingly, their membership has
been restored.

Mrs. Raqucl Catala, a member with
many years of devoted work in the
Cuban Section of the T.S.. has come to
make her permanent home in Caracas,

and, at her request, has been incorporated
in Heracles Lodge.

Mrs. Fernanda Abadic, a former
member in Venezuela, has left Caracas,
to reside in the United States, and there¬
fore she has been transferred to the
American Section.

Through lack of attendance and failure
to pay the yearly dues, it has been neces¬
sary to cancel the membership of four
members.

So. we have now here a total number of
40 members ail active, and distributed
among the three Lodges.

Our prospects for the future arc un¬
certain, since circumstances may and do
change so very often, in accordance with
the varying mental states of human
beings. We feel the ambience here, not
too promising for endeavors of a spiritual
nature; but, nevertheless, we work steadily,
with the unshakable conviction that our
efforts in this field will provide at least
some seeds for future growth. I even
venture to hope that the coming years
may yield a better harvest.

On behalf of all the members in Vene¬
zuela, I express our best wishes for peace,
well-being and spiritual blessings to all.

Pablo Bonilla,
Presidential Agent.

WEST AFRICAN FEDERATION

The stimulus created in the work locally
since last year has continued to be effective.
This year fresh public interest was aroused
by public lectures delivered in Accra and
in the Regions by our overseas visitors,
which contributed immensely to the
progress of the work generally.

Membership.- During the year 84 new
members joined, five were re-admitted,

there was one inward transfer from the
American Section and three deaths were
reported, bringing the total membership
to 417.

New Lodges and Centres .—A new Lodge
named after Mrs. Annie Bcsant was
inaugurated at Calabar in Nigeria on
21st November, and three Centres were
formed in Ghana at Anfoega in the Volta

BOLIVIA

Region. Kibi in Akim Abuakwa and Cape
Coast in the Central Region.

Deaths .—The following were reported:
Mr. P. K. Fleku, (Dharma Lodge),
Mr. A. M. Allotey (Blavatsky Lodge) and
Mr. A. L. K. Acolatse (Arundalc Lodge).

Mr. Allotey was one of our older
members here having joined the Society
in 1906. He was an indefatigable worker
and was for a number of years our local
treasurer. Before it was possible to
secure a permanent place, Mr. Allotey
allowed meetings of the Blavatsky Lodge
to be held at his premises. He was well
and strongly built, having been in his
youth a Police officer and ardent dis¬
ciplinarian. He hoped to live to be 100
years, but as Providence would have it
he was 99 years and six weeks when he
died. He must have indoctrinated his
children about death, for his funeral was
one remarkably devoid of long-drawn
faces and weeping and all the members of
his family dressed in white.

Visitors .—Miss Ianthc H. Hoskins of
England visited Ghana in May for nine
days during which she gave public lectures
in Accra, Kumasi in Ashanti and Ho
in the Volta Region. A few days after
she had left, Mr. John Coats flew in from
South Africa for five days and gave a
public lecture at Accra. The lectures
were all fully attended and many of the
enquirers have since joined the Society.

As a follow up. to meet the growing
demands for Theosophical literature, this
Federation gave a handsome selection of
Theosophical books to the three Univer¬
sities in Ghana. Our Central Library
has also been extended by adding a new
shelf to make available more books for
use of the public. The Regional Lodges
have been encouraged to run their own
libraries to enable their members and
enquirers to borrow from them.

E. Michael Affram,
Organizing Secretary.

BOLIVIA

During the year 1970-71 the lodges Paz
and Inti of La Paz and Cochabamba
were working in the normal way. The
Lodge Urus of Oruro lost some members
and reduced the number of its meetings
which are now very irregular.

In August four of our members went
to Cochabamba where 9 new members
of the Branch Inti received their diplo¬
mas as active members. This Branch
has now 24 members and some sympa¬
thizers. It is planned to form a new
group of Young Theosophists out of those
who are attending and studying.

In Santa Cruz the meetings arc guided
by 3 sisters. It is a centre of about 12
people, which we hope will be transformed
into a new Theosophical Lodge.

In La Paz a group of 9 Young Thcoso-
phists studying Theosophy have been
holding meetings for one year, and this
group we also hope to transform shortly
into a new Lodge.

In La Paz it is furthermore planned to
form another group of sympathizers
interested in and studying Theosophy.

Mario Cariago Aramayo,
Presidential Agent.

100 THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPH1CAL SOCIETV

CANADIAN FEDERATION

The Canadian Federation has had a
busy year. One of our youngest members
was sent as a delegate to Toronto, to
attend the North American Thcosophical
Students Conference, arranged by the
Canadian Section, where he met several
other young people like himself, and did
his share in helping with the program.

Last October several Federation
members visited the North American
Conference in Seattle, U.S.A., and spent
three interesting days with our American
brothers.

The Federation Quarterly Magazine
has again come to life, after the sudden
passing of Mrs. Lisa Trumplcr, who for
many years, was its Editor. Mr. Van
Norcross volunteered to take on the
Editorship.

The two French speaking Lodges in
Quebec report lively interest in Theoso¬
phy, with possibly another Lodge being
formed there shortly.

Ida F. Stephen,
Federation Secretary.

EUROPEAN FEDERATION

I should like again to begin this year’s
report with the most important event in
1970-71: the Annual Meeting of the
European Council. It took place in
August 1970 in St. Andrews, Scotland,
during the British Regional Summer
School. The follow ing sections, etc., were
represented by their General Secretaries
or proxies and, in some cases, delegates:
England, Sweden, the Netherlands,
France, Germany, Scotland, Switzerland,
Belgium, Austria, Norway, Denmark,
Ireland, Iceland, Wales, Yugoslavia,
Northern Ireland and the Young Thco-
sophists.

Meetings of the European Executive
Committee and of the British and German-
speaking Regional Committees also took
place during the Summer School in St.
Andrews. (The Executive Committee
further met in Paris in February 1971, and
the Pays Latins Regional Committee in
August in Aussois.) The Congress Com¬
mittee. consisting of the Chairman, the
Vice-Chairman, the General Secretary of
Switzerland and two representatives of the
Young Theosophists, also met during

the St. Andrews Summer School. Guest
speakers were Mr. James S. Perkins,
Vice-President of the Society, and Mrs.
Kathrinc Perkins, which added to the
international atmosphere of the gathering.
Mr. and Mrs. G. Barborka were also
present. The standard of lectures, work
groups, etc., was very high.

Mr. and Mrs. Perkins also lectured at
the German Section Summer School in
Hustcdt (as did Mr. Barborka), the
Scandinavian Summer School in Gammcl
Praestegaard, the Pays Latins Summer
School in Aussois and the International
Week in Huizcn. They spoke to lodges
in several towns in Switzerland. Italy
and Austria. Since Mr. and Mrs. Perkins
lived until recently in Adyar, they brought
to our gatherings—as did the President
the year before—something of the atmos¬
phere of our International Headquarters.
At the end of March 1971 they left for
two years in Australia and New Zealand,
where they are touring and arc active in
the work of those Sections.

Further Summer Schools were held in
1970 in Finland, Holland and Austria—

EUROPEAN FEDERATION

101

the latter being the Summer School of the
German-speaking Region.

The Young Theosophists chose
Yugoslavia for their annual gathering.
The Yugoslavian members received the
young people with open arms and did
all they could to help make the camp a
success. Perhaps we shall hear more
about it—and about this year’s gathering
in the South of France—during the
Congress.

On 3rd April 1971 our dear unforget¬
table Clara Codd left her physical body
at the age of over 90. She died under
narcosis before an operation which was
necessary after a fall in Cambcrlcy.
Those of us who were in Sal/burg will
remember with great pleasure her last
international lecture. The last book of
hers to be published. Trust Yourself to
Life , was a success and has already been
translated. Hers was indeed a full life.
Those who know her book So Rich a
Life will realise how her whole existence
was one-pointed, how she lived according
to thcosophical principles. I am sure
that Clara Codd is continuing her work
in the finer spheres in which she was
always at home.

Another well-known member died at
about the same time as Clara Codd:
Mr. Albert Sassi. Mr. Sassi belonged
orginally to the Swiss Section. Me was
a popular and very dynamic lecturer. His
beautiful garden in Geneva was at the
disposal of the Young Theosophists for
their gatherings, and C. Jinarajadasa and
Rukmini Devi were among the guests
to w hom his wife was a most kind hostess.
After having been for a short time Swiss
General Secretary and then President of
the Geneva Group of lodges, he left
Switzerland when he was pensioned and
went to live in India. He settled in the
Nilgiri Hills, where he lived in comparative
isolation with some friends and began to
write a book. He visited Adyar several

times. Later on he settled in Belgium,
where he also lectured, but he tended
more to another movement than to the
T.S. He visited the last Convention in
Adyar. by which time he was already very
ill. He returned from Belgium to Geneva,
where he was released from his physical
body.

When you receive this report the main
event in our work in 1971 will be approach¬
ing: the Congress in Paris. It will be
held in Paris on 8th-15th August 1971.
We hope that with your help it will be a
wonderful success, and I am sure that
Paris will leave us with happy memories.
Our guest speakers will be the Inter¬
national President and Mrs. Radha
Burnier.

I had as usual news of various National
Conventions held in different Sections: in
England. Yugoslavia. Finland, Switzer¬
land, Scotland and other countries. The
French Annual Convention will be held
during the Congress. In Germany the
Convention is triennial, but each year
spring and autumn gatherings arc held
in a beautiful part of the country—on
the Liineburg Heath—and arc attended
by many members, particularly from the
North of Germany. The Convention of
the Italian Section was for me this year,
as was the Finnish last year—a very
happy personal experience. It was held
in May in the ancient city of Perugia,
in the beautiful Umbrian landscape.
Members gathered, as usual from all
over Italy—including Milan, Turin, Rome,
Naples, Sicily, etc.,—and the whole Con¬
vention was held in a very lively and
friendly atmosphere. Many very enthusi¬
astic young members were present. Mr.
Roberto Hack, after many years as
General Secretary, is about to retire from
that function at the age of 82. Mr. Hack
will certainly be remembered by all with
immense affection for his kindly and
gentle but firm guidance of the Section.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

102

The new Besant Hall at the Centre in
Huizen is now completed and is a very
beautiful building. Gifts arc still wel¬
come, as costs have proved much higher
than expected.

Mr. J. Flcischanderl of Austria is in
charge of the work of the Theosophical
Order of Service in Europe and works
conscienciously for that organisation. He
issues regular circular letters, giving reports
on the work of the Order. We shall hear
from him during the Congress. Mr.
Flcischanderl is rather disappointed at
the lack of reports from the different
sections and is always glad to hear from
T.O.S. representatives.

There is a new General Secretary in
Finland, Miss Sirkka Kivilinna. We
thank Mr. Atte Pohjanmaa for his work
and wish his successor happy and fruitful
activity.

Mrs. Ingrid Fjelandcr is still responsible
for the Round Table in Europe.

Mr. and Mrs. Perkins, as mentioned
above, visited many Summer Schools and
lodges last summer. This summer Mr. and
Mrs. Geoffrey Hodson visited the lodges
in Berlin, where they held lectures, and
then gave three-week courses, which
proved very popular and helpful, in
Copenhagen and in Huizen.

Mrs. Rukmini Devi Arundale has
visited Huizen and England this summer
and will take part in the Congress.

Lecturers were exchanged between dif¬
ferent sections in Europe—a very useful
activity. The Vice-Chairman. Dr. Nor-
bert Lauppcrt, was guest speaker at
the Swiss Convention in Basle, and also
visited some groups in Germany. Mr.
and Mrs. Lcslic-Smith of England toured
the Scandinavian sections. Professor C.
Schmid of Germany was in Austria and
Yugoslavia. Dr. H. Sabctay toured
various German lodges. Several lecturers
from France visited Geneva.

On the whole, one has the impression
that good work is going on everywhere
and—what is important—methods of work
have been adapted to modern times in
that, for example, group work is every¬
where preferred to long lectures. Inter¬
national events arc being observed by
members and seen and understood as far
as possible from a theosophical standpoint,
with the idea of acting in the right manner
if action is called for.

The Chairman presided at the British
Regional Summer School in St. Andrews
and the German-speaking Regional Sum¬
mer School in Pichl, Austria. She also
visited various lodges in Austria and in
Germany and gave lectures. She toured
the Swiss lodges and in May attended
the Italian Convention in Perugia, men¬
tioned above, where she gave a lecture.
She visited Paris twice. Since prepara¬
tions for the Congress take much time,
she was obliged to travel less than usual.

Since this is my last report, I should
like to thank most cordially my closest
helpers: Dr. Lauppcrt, the Vice-Chairman,
who was always ready with his advice
and active help. Miss Mary Anderson,
without whose help I probably could not
have done the work at all, Mrs. Greta
Eedle. to whom we are all indebted
for the editing of Theosophy in Action
and her helpers, particularly Mr. New,
who is in charge of mailing the magazine
abroad. Perhaps I do not need to men¬
tion specially that the cooperation with
the Treasurer, Miss Use von Tresckow,
was at all times very harmonious as it
should always be between Thcosophists.

I thank all of you. everywhere in Europe,
for your friendship and affection, which
have made my term of office a happy one.

When I look back on my activity during
these three years. 1 rea'isc that not much
has changed inside the Thesophical
Society in Europe. When I was elected
I said that I wanted to And new paths,

PERU

103

but I do not know whether I have suc¬
ceeded in doing so. But I have every¬
where observed the growing influence of
new methods of work within our Society.
Discussions arc held in an orderly manner,
present-day problems are treated in the
light of thcosophical principles, younger
and older members work together in
harmony. Apart from the lectures of
skilled speakers, short talks arc most
appreciated, sometimes with discussion
following. We shall have samples of
short talks at the Congress. These
methods arc not necessarily absolutely
new, but they arc being adopted by most
of the Sections today. What is new is the
cooperation between the Young Theo-
sophists and the older members in the
coming Congress. I very much hope

that this cooperation will give the Congress
a special note. At the present time,
when the gulf between the generations
appears at times to be deepening, this
cooperation is extremely important. May
it be successful and may it be infec¬
tious.

Dear friends, I hope and I am sure
that you will give my successor your
friendship and your affection. They will
make things much easier for him or her.

May the activity of all who share in
the work of the Theosophical Society
prove a blessing for mankind—mankind
which is seeking, perhaps unconsciously,
those things that we should be able to
give it.

Claire Wyss,

Chairman of the Council.

LODGES ATTACHED DIRECT TO ADYAR

PERU

“ If. P. B." Lodge , Lima:

1 herewith wish to report on the develop¬
ment of the activities of this branch, whose
President I am. for the period ending with
this month, activities about which I am
very satisfied. Although they did not reach
our high aims, there was great interest
in helping and a good spirit for work.

For health reasons we had to accept
the resignation of our Vice President,
Felix Maffcretti, one of our best workers
and a valuable economic support of the
lodge. His charge has been taken over
by Brother Enrique de Vivcra, one of
our oldest members and a most sincere
and enthusiastic exponent of Theosophy
in our country.

Meetings .—During the current year we
have held 101 study meetings with an

average attendance of 25 members and
visitors. Until June we met on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays, but in winter
only Wednesdays and Fridays. Our
preferred subject was Man and his relation
to the Universe, his constitution and
spiritual unfoldmcnt. For a better ex¬
position of the subject we studied Brother
Raja’s book First Principles of Theosophy.
We usually dedicated the Fridays’ meet¬
ings to instructions, practical ethics of
self realization, and study on medi¬
tation. This year we adopted for
the first time round table discussions of
the subjects, which led to such interesting
questions, that we felt obliged to publish
quite a number of them, so that they may
also be considered by those who could
not attend the meetings.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

104

Visitors.— Wc had the great pleasure
of receiving here the delegations from
Argentine and Uruguay to the Congress
at Bogota when they passed through
Lima. Furthermore, our well known
Brother Armando Sales. President of
the Brazilian Section and Sr. Blumenfeld
from Uruguay paid us visits and gave
lectures at our members* meetings.

New members. —We had the satisfaction
of accepting 14 new active members,
and although wc do not admit everybody
coming to our door, as recommended by
our dear Mistress, wc always advise
postulants to consider the step they are
about to make by thorough examination,
whether it is motivated by their heart and
not just a superficial, futile impulse.
We tell them that while they arc not yet
perfectly aware of the importance that
Theosophy means to their lives, it is
better to be a friend of the Theosophical
Society and enjoy the freedom of the
invitation to attend the public meetings,
and not commit themselves to what
they arc unable to understand and
realize.

Inter-American Theosophical Federation.
—Owing to our practical difficulties as a
result of the governmental dispositions
regarding travelling, foreign currency, etc.,
wc delegated Sister Dolores dc Fuerte
to represent our lodge at the Congress
in Bogota. Wc realize the importance
of an entity functioning in our own
language, which may face the regional
problems of Sections and lodges, and
cooperate in the best possible way for
their solution. We trust that in the more
or less near future America will be able
to present one Theosophical front, united,
strong and creative.

Monthly letter.— Being not in a position
to publish a review of our Section, wc are
issuing a monthly letter as a bond of
union. It corresponds to the 3rd Epoch
and deals with different aspects of our

teachings from a personal and practical
point of view.

Economy. During the current year,
the income has decreased and wc had a
deficit of $6951.73, which together with
the sum carried over for years gives a
total deficit of $71,239.19. This accu¬
mulated deficit had its origin in unforeseen
expenses for repair of our room due to
the 3 earthquakes which our country had
to endure, in the non-fulfilment of econo¬
mic commitments of some members, in
the progressive increase of the room rent
by 10% yearly and in maintenance
charges for the room.

Chess classes. —Since January young
Thcosophists arc receiving chess classes
from the distinguished Prof. Eduardo
Wong.

Conclusion. —Considering the obstacles
we have overcome, we can say wc have
come out of the woods. We feel there
is already a Theosophical conscience and
a Theosophical spirit, that we are thinking
in terms of eternity and not of personality.
It is impossible to create through deceit
and mystification. Only Truth opens the
way. only Truth creates the everlasting.
If wc get to the root of the plant, we find
the seed, which is Truth made reality,
given expression by the plant. The Thco-
sophical Society of Peru is an undeniable
reality in our midst and in America,
supported by years of persistent work;
its Truth, however, abides in the hearts
of sincere men and women who believe
in it, not as a Society of entertainment and
social life, but for self-improvement and
to give realization to the longings of so
many beings suffering in the agony of
ignorance. Truth is not conjured, as
the juggler conjures ribbons and hand¬
kerchiefs in his basket; Truth is living
and growing in the heart, in the deeds
of daily life, in the relations with our
friends and brothers. I think that if our
work for the Theosophical Society and

ISRAEL

105

for Theosophy has not been better, it is
because the men and women who have
approached it arc not yet up to the mark
of its sublime teachings. Nevertheless,
much has already been done and continues

to be done; our hearts arc comforted
and we arc humble servants of the Greater
Brethren.

Jorge Torres Ugarriza,
President.

HONG KONG

No Report

ISRAEL

“ Harmony " Lodge, Tel-Aviv.

During 1970-71. work in our Lodge con¬
tinued very smoothly and harmoniously.
We had 4 new admissions and 4 Iapsings,
so that the total of 30 members in good
standing remained unchanged. Lodge
meetings were convened twice monthly.

As in previous years, we considered it
our duty to study the Ancient Wisdom not
only within the rather limited circum¬
ference of our little group, but tried to
bring the message of Theosophy to the
Israel public at large. Thanks to these
continued endeavors. Parapsychology
and Astrology arc now widely known
and willingly accepted in our country.
Gratifying opportunities are thus at hand
to infuse thcosophical ideas—the Oneness
of Life, Reincarnation, Life after Death.
Karma, the Educational Purpose of Suf¬
fering. etc.—into the consciousness of
our nation. Mr. Hans Zeuger. President
of our Lodge, travelled far and wide,
lecturing in towns, villages and co¬
operative settlements (kibbuzim), and
giving, in addition, interviews over our
Broadcasting Stations as well as to our
local, polyglot press. His many astro¬
logical forecasts, particularly in the politi¬
cal field, which turned out to be correct
to the very day, aroused much interest
and widespread comment, and were
even mentioned by a well-known daily
in Germany (“ Sucddeutsche Zeitung ”
No. 19, of 22.1.71) and taken up by the
14

Television System in France, spreading
thus the doctrine of inter-relation between
Cosmos and Man in truly international
fashion.

Mr. Zeuger has now been invited to
address students of the Hebrew University
in Jerusalem.

Mrs. Margot Klausncr, a member of
our Lodge, attended the Annual Con¬
vention at Adyar in December 1970,
and gave our Lodge a vivid description of
her impressions there and in other parts
of Mother India.

Hans Zeuger,
President.

“ B'sorat Hagaiil" Lodge.

The most prominent work of this year is
the publishing of At the Feet of the Master
in Hebrew. It is nearly impossible to
describe the many obstacles which had
to be overcome, from the moment the
translation by two very enthusiastic ladies
was delivered into our hands. Naturally
we wanted it to be a hundred per cent
correctly translated, so we had to go over
it many times before and after printing,
to look for the right printing shop, to ex¬
plain over and over everything till at last
it was ready.

All work had to be done on an hono¬
rary basis but at a professional level and
only the printing was paid for. For
this the money was collected during
two years among the members of

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

THE REPORT OF THE

106

the lodges “ Covenant ” and “ B'sorat
Hagalil”.

Publishing of the three-language bulletin
Theosophia was continued and its new
handy appearance is much appreciated.

In the year 1969-70 meetings were
convened once every month and the study
of The Masters and the Path w hich started
the year before was continued and brought
to an end. Other themes of lectures and
discussions were: “The Bible and Theo¬
sophy ”, “ Some Explanations of the
Occult and Esoteric Meanings of the
Exodus from Egypt and the Passover
Feast Karma and Heredity

In October 1970 a study week was held
at the vegetarian village Amirim with
active help at the organising and lecturing
level from our members.

The year 1970-1 saw activity among a
group of newcomers and therefore a study
group was started on the Basic Principles
of Theosophy, which was held fortnightly.
The great interest was visible in the lively
discussions following the meetings.

On some occasions members of our
Northern Lodge took part in meetings
of the Covenant Lodge in Tel-Aviv.

Pinchas Mor,
President.

“ Emmanuel" Lodge. Haifa.

The membership of our Lodge is the
same as before (nine). The activities have
been satisfactory in spite of the absence
of regular meetings. We arc in close
connection with other Lodges in Israel
regarding thcosophical problems.

We are studying the monthly reports
which we receive from Switzerland to¬
gether with highly valuable dissertations.

Apart from this we regularly receive
The Theosophist from Adyar and also the
Adyar from Graz, Austria. In addition,
we have acquired several books, latest
editions, which help us to develop in the
theosophical direction.

I would like to point out the fact that
as seen from the various journals and
reports, many lecturers travel around the
world, giving valuable information on
subjects of great interest to us. but for
some obscure reason they seem to bypass
Israel.

The presence of and direct contact with
these highly developed individuals would
be invaluable to us, as this would increase
the spiritual conception of the theosophical
principles and help us to rise to a higher
plane of thought if only temporarily.

Heinrich Srfbrow,
President.

SINGAPORE

This year’s activities of the Singapore
Lodge were most stimulating, due mainly
to the interesting and inspiring talks given
by well-known Thcosophists, namely Mr.
and Mrs. G. Hodson, Mrs. Scctha Nccla-
kantan, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Perkins, Miss
Annie Tjioc, Miss Marion Caws, and Mr.
John Coats, while they were passing
through Singapore. Bishop Coats con¬
ducted two Liberal Catholic Church
services in the Lodge premises.

Members celebrated the 60th Anniver¬
sary of the founding of the Singapore
Lodge with an appropriate program
and a buffet.

A monthly bulletin Theosophy in Singa¬
pore was commenced in January 1971,
with Mr. Ian Hope as editor. Copies
were distributed to members and friends
as well as to Lodges in other parts of the
world.

THE WORLD FEDERATION OF YOUNG THEOSOPHISTS

107

In September 1971, our Hon. Secretary,
Miss Margaret Flinter, left Singapore to
take up duties at Adyar Headquarters,
and Miss G. Weerckoon was appointed to
fill her office for the rest of the fiscal year.

The membership now stands at 39 as
against 35 in the previous year.

As Singapore stands midway between
East and West, there are bound to be

fellow-members passing through Singa¬
pore, and we request them to look us up
at our Lodge Building, No. 8 Cairnhill
Road. The telephone number of the new
Lodge President, Mr. Lim Khay Guan,
is 912293 or 912158, during office hours,
and No. 984005 after office hours.

Chan Chim Lim,

President.

JAPAN

No Report

THE WORLD FEDERATION OF YOUNG THEOSOPHISTS

Introduction. —This report covers a
period of three years to October 1971.

Council Meeting 1969.—During the
Convention-Summer School of the Thco-
sophical Society in America the W. F.
Y. T. held its Council Meeting. Chair¬
man, Secretary and Treasurer had been re¬
elected for a three year term in December
1967. The term of office of the other four
members of the Executive Committee
expired in 1969. The following people
were suggested as members for the new
Executive Committee:- Mr. Terry Dennis
(President, European Federation of Y. T.,
ex-officio); Mr. Vicente Fiumano (Presi¬
dent, Argentine Federation of Y. T.); Mr.
Siegfried Ebcrsbach (U. S. A.); Mr.
Manfred Mcy (Adyar).

The countries represented at the Council
Meeting were: Brazil, India, Holland,
Philippines and U. S. A.

Elections by Postal Ballot , June 1971 .—
The term of office of Chairman, Secretary
and Treasurer of the W. F. Y. T. expired
in December 1970. Elections were held
by postal ballot, because it was not
possible for the Council to have a meeting.
The Secretary sent an appeal for nomina¬
tions in October 1970. The Chairman,
Mr. John Coats was nominated for a new
term. Mira Brandt-Bodrogi was not avail¬

able for re-election as Secretary of the
W. F. Y. T. Charles Chesrow (U. S. A.)
was nominated for the office of Secretary,
by the Dutch group of Y. T.’s. Joris
Brandt continues as Treasurer for the
time being, until someone is found to
relieve him. The elections closed on June
1st 1971. John Coats was re-elected as
Chairman of the W. F. Y. T.; Charles
Chesrow was elected as Secretary of the
W. F. Y. T.

Executive Committee. —There have been
no meetings of the Executive Com¬
mittee.

The Chairman, Mr John Coats left
Europe in September 1968 to attend the
Inter-American Theosophical Congress in
Brazil. He visited Argentina in Octobcr-
November 1968, after which he went to
Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Puerto Rico
where he spent Christmas. In the begin¬
ning of 1970 he visited Costa Rica,
Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guate¬
mala. In March he visited Mexico, and
from there he went through U. S. A. and
Canada on a Theosophical lecture tour.
He attended the Convention-Summer
School of the American Section of the
T. S. at Glen Ellyn, Illinois in July 1969,
and attended the W. F. Y. T. Council
Meeting mentioned above.

108

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

In November our Chairman participated
in the West Coast Conference of the T. S.,
held at Ojai, California. In December
1969 he visited San Francisco, and then
left for Australia where he spent several
months. He attended the Convention
in New Zealand, as well as the Convention
in Australia.

Later in 1970 he was in Indonesia,
Singapore. Malaysia and Hongkong; spent
a little more time than expected in the
Philippines because of a sudden health
problem, but after sonic rest continued
his travels to Adyar to reach there before
the end of the Convention, in the end of
December 1970. In March of the next
year he continued his tour via Bombay,
Karachi, East Africa, to South Africa,
where he attended the Easter Convention
of the T. S. In the end of May 1971 he
made a stop in Ghana on his way to
Europe. In Europe besides visiting dif¬
ferent countries John attended the Con¬
gress of the European Federation of the
Theosophical Society, which was held
in Paris in August 1971. This completed
a three year tour around the world during
which our Chairman has done a great
deal to encourage the young members
in so many parts of the world, while he
travelled as a Theosophical lecturer.

The Secretary.— Miss Mira Brandt left
Holland in June 1969. She attended the
W. F. Y. T. Council Meeting at Glen
Ellyn, Illinois, U. S. A., in July 1969.
She got married to Gustav Bodrogi in
April 1970, and lives in California now.
Her term of office expired in December
1970; she did not stand for re-election.
The new Secretary, Charles Chesrow of
U. S. A., was elected by postal ballot
on June 1st, 1971. Charlie attended part
of the American Y. T. camp held at
“ Far Horizons ’’ in the Sierras in Cali¬
fornia, in August 1971. He works closely
with the American Federation of Y. T.’s.
Charlie visited Mira and Gus in Fremont,

California in October 1971, so that the
work of the W. F. Y. T. could be discussed
in detail. Charlie lives in the Chicago
area, which is close to the Headquarters
of the T. S. in America.

The Treasurer. —Joris Brandt, has also
been active with the European Young
Theosophists. He hopes to find a suc¬
cessor in this office, before long.

Members of the Executive Committee .—
In 1970 Terry Dennis resigned as President
of the European Federation of the Y. T.’s;
he was succeeded by Martin Jensen
(Sweden), who is now ex-officio on the
Executive Committee.

Manfred Mcy left India in the begin¬
ning of 1971. He met some young
people in Colombo, Scrcmban (Malaysia),
Saigon and Manila. Saigon, he said,
seemed to have the most active group he
had ever met. Their program centres
around lectures and study, mainly.
Manfred is now in Germany. Siegfried
Ebcrsbach left U. S. A. and is living in
Germany now, also.

Newsletter of the W. F. Y. T— Margrect
Meijcr continued editing the W. F. Y. T.
Newsletter. There were two issues, one
was published in October 1968, and the
other in the Spring of 1970.

It was circulated widely, and provided
a means of contact internationally between
the groups. A Mailing List has been
compiled of addresses of Y. T. groups
and individuals. Many of them arc
people our Chairman met during his
travels. This Newsletter is also sent to
the General Secretaries of the different
Sections of the T. S., all over the world
to inform them about the work/ of the
Y. T.’s, and bring it to the attention of
young members in their Section, who
might be interested to get in touch.

Projects suggested by the Chairman .—
In the Spring 1970 issue of the W. F. Y. T.
Newsletter, John Coats suggested the
Y. T.’s might come out with a more definite

THE WORLD FEDERATION OF YOUNG THEOSOPHISTS

109

program, which he put under three
headings.

1. The possibility that some of the
younger members should take an
active interest in work done by
Raymond Lloyd, who works at the
FAO in Rome; his schemes for helping
the poor of the world. Some informa¬
tion about this scheme was given in
the same issue of the Newsletter.

2. That the Y. T.*s become more
informed about the student situation:
revolt, protest, etc., and see whether
these people can be made to state a
positive program for change in the
world.

3. That the Y. T.’s consider possible
alternatives to our present economic
system, to which many of the problems
in the world seem to be directly
related. As an example John men¬
tioned Social Credit, which operates
in certain parts of Canada and
New Zealand.

John suggested that the Y. T.’s should
obtain information of a first-hand order,
which could be submitted to all the groups.
(I did not receive any comments, sugges¬
tions or reports on these points, from
groups or individuals. So my question
is: are we as Y. T.’s sufficiently interested
in undertaking some projects together?)

Something about the groups:

Australia.— Sydney: Interest in the
Friday night meetings continues to be
maintained, despite the dissolution of
the former Young Theosophists who
traditionally met on Friday. The Y. T.’s
were forced to dissolve as a group when
no-one came forward to fill the executive
positions provided for in the Y. T.’s
constitution at the Annual General
Meeting in 1970. After fifty years of
existence, and many fluctuations of
membership, the Y. T.’s in Sydney ceased
to exist in name. But the spirit of the

group prevailed and it was felt, that some
effort should be made to hold meetings,
if not under the name of the Young
Theosophists, which some felt was a
misnomer, then under the name of the
Friday Night Group. Programs varied
around discussions, tapes and guest
speakers.

The Friday Night Group has now been
reorganized within the body of the
Blavatsky Lodge in Sydney, and it is
called the Youth Group. There arc two
officers, a Chairman and Hon. Secretary
who arc responsible to the Lodge for the
group’s activities. The group has (a) a
Thursday night meeting devoted to serious
study, (b) a Friday night meeting which
retains its now traditional character of a
public meeting for members and those
sympathetic to the Society’s objects, and
(c) a journal, to further the cause of
Theosophy in the Group.

The Journal. Movement , is issued mon¬
thly; it contains items of interest and
the Group’s program. The Editor is
Peter Glasson, 83 SpofTorth Street,
Cremornc, N.S.W. 2090, Australia.

Argentina .—The Argentine Y. T.’s held
their first camp on January 2-6. 1969, at
Alpa Corral. Cordoba. There were 28
participants. The main theme was
divided into three parts: (1) Youth and the
Theosophical Society; (2) Youth, Educa¬
tion and Religion; (3) Youth and the
Problem of Freedom of Sex.

The Argentine Federation of Young
Theosophists mentioned in their Annual
Report of 1969-1970 that thanks to low
cost facilities provided for people travel¬
ling from afar. 19 young people from
Argentina could attend the first Inter-
American Young Theosophists Camp
which was held in Brazil in January 1970.
The delegates had only to pay for their
trip; accommodation and food were
provided by the Brazil Y. T.’s. This camp
was a grand experience for the participants.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

It did not take much time for people to
feel like members of one family.

The Y. T.’s participated in the
“ Journeys of the Argentine Section ”
which was organised together with the
Uruguayan Section of the T. S. The
young people cooperate in all types of
work of the Section, besides the lodge
work. The President of the Argentine
Federation of Y. T.’s took a trip to
Porto Alegre. Brazil, to participate in the
“ Thcosophical Journeys of the South
Atlantic

Under the auspices of the Argentine
Federation of Y.T.’s, the first “ Journey
of Y.T.’s in Argentine ” was held in
August 1970 in the cities of Mendoza, San
Rafael and San Juan. The second Journey
of Y.T.’s was planned for October 1970,
in the city of Rosario.

Teamwork is the aim of the Argentine
Federation; working together for the
realization of the Thcosophical principles.

Brazil— In 1969 the Y.T.’s of Brazil
organised themselves as a national group
which is now affiliated to the W.F.Y.T.
There are local Y.T. groups in four cities:
Rio dc Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Bclo
Horizonte and Sao Paulo. Three members
attended the W.F.Y.T. Council Meeting
in July 1969 in the U.S.A.: Ulisscs and
Enidc dc Rcsendc and Marcus Flavius dc
los Santos. On their return journey to
Brazil they visited the new Y.T. group
“ Arco Iris’’ in Bogota. Colombia.

In November 1969 Y.T.’s from Uruguay,
Argentine and Brazil met in Montevideo,
Uruguay during the “ Rio Platensc
Journeys”. The Brazil Y.T.’s hosted
the first Inter-American Y.T. Camp
which was held in January 1970 on
Paqueta Island. Rio dc Janeiro. Partici¬
pants were from Argentine, Bolivia and
Brazil. In April 1970 Y.T.’s from Brazil,
Argentine and Uruguay met during the
Summer School of the Argentine Section
of the T.S. In July 1970, during the

“ American Theosophical Journeys of
South Atlantic ”, a Y.T. meeting was held
in Porto Alegre, Brazil, with participants
from Sao Paulo, Rio dc Janeiro, Porto
Alegre, Uruguay and Argentine. A
national Y.T. meeting was planned for
October 1970 in Belo Horizonte. A Y.T.
Camp was held near Bclo Horizonte
City from July 4-11,1971.

There has been increased communica¬
tion between Y.T.’s in the South American
Countries; this was encouraged greatly
by the fact that the Inter-American
Thcosophical Congress of 1968 was held
in Brazil. The local groups:

Rio dc Janeiro: In 1969 the group went
on excursions to the mountains and
shores during which time they had Thco¬
sophical discussions. Members of this
group participated actively in the forma¬
tion of Y.T. groups in other cities of
Brazil. In 1970 the program of the
group included meetings at members’
homes, study meetings at the T.S.
Headquarters, visits to several Thcoso¬
phical Lodges in Rio dc Janeiro, an
excursion every month, and artistic
activities.

Porto Alegre: Most members are
students, one of them a poet. They meet
every Saturday at the Lodge named
“ Dharma ”. They started a study group
of Theosophy in July 1970.

Bclo Horizonte: This group works
actively within the Thcosophical Lodges
of that city, and they have artistic activ¬
ities besides.

Sao Paulo: This group was founded on
April llth, 1970. The first meetings were
held at members’ homes, but now they
meet every Tuesday at the Thcosophical
Headquarters, to go into deeper study of
Theosophy. An informal meeting is held
every second and fourth Saturday at the
“Thcosophical Institution Pitagoras”,
during which there is a discussion on
subjects of general interest. The average

THE WORLD FEDERATION OF YOUNG THEOSOPHISTS

III

attendance is 10 members. Five represen¬
tatives were sent to the “ American Thco-
sophical Journey in the South Atlantic ”,
and they travelled to Porto Alegre, a
distance of about 1,000 miles, in July 1970.

Colombia —Planning for formation of
the group started when Gilda Distilo
from Argentine visited Bogota, Colombia
in mid-1968. The group was organised
under the auspices of the T.S. in
Colombia, and enthusiastically supported.
An important stimulus was received by
John Coats’ visit in the end of 1968. The
group worked on an experimental basis
until May 1969. From that time on there
has been a definite structure. The group
has been working with enthusiasm. In
1969 there were 27 active members.
Weekly meetings were held. The program
of studies and discussions contained
among others the cycle 44 Theosophy
and the Individual ”, Some subjects
were the Three Objects of the Society,
discussed one by one; working in a group
and working by oneself; and subjects
concerning daily life, such as our relation
with the family and with friends, our
education, etc.

Europe .—The European Federation of
Young Thcosophists organises a Camp
every summer in a different country.
In 1969 the camp was held at Saanen.
Switzerland to coincide with Krishna-
murti’s stay, and the program was
arranged in such a way that Y. T.’s
could attend his talks. The theme of the
camp was 44 EducationIn 1970 the
camp was held in Yugoslavia, with the
theme “Utopia”. In 1971 the camp
was held in the Pyrenees, Southern
France. The theme was 44 Theosophy ”.
The camp dates had been chosen so that
people could attend the Congress of the
European Federation of the T. S.. in
Paris, afterwards. The Y. T.’s had been
co-operating actively with the organisers
of this Congress, to make a program in

which individual participants would be
more actively involved.

The main international contact between
Y. T.’s in Europe exists in the magazine
Lotus , which is published in the English
language, and which has also subscribers
in other parts of the world.

Germany .—Circular letters keep the
German Y. T.'s informed of past and
future events. The Whitsun meetings at
Waake are a tradition. Different sub¬
jects which have been on the program are;
44 Theosophy—to which end?’’, medita¬
tion. astrology, yoga, modern music.
The Spring and Autumn meetings of the
T. S. in Germany, in a nice hostel in
InzmUhlen. North Germany were also
attended and enjoyed by several Y. T.’s.
The German Y. T.’s have contributed
money to an orphanage in Saigon which
is run by Theosophists. In this way they
learned that there arc about 100 Y. T.’s
in Viet Nam, who arc also members of the
Round Table and the Lodge.

Holland .—The Dutch Y. T.’s had two
weekends in 1969, attended by 35 to 40
people each. The Spring weekend was on
two subjects: 44 The Y. T.’s and the future
of the T. S.” and 44 The Kabala
An introduction to the latter was given
by Saul Sartan, who gave us a fascinating
bird’s-eye view. The Autumn weekend
was devoted to 44 Astrology ” with lectures
by Anja Crom, a member of the Dutch
Y. T.’s and Eric van Win. her 44 teacher ”.
Both lectures were followed by a lively
discussion during which many questions
were answered in a truly admirable way.
In March 1970 the Dutch Y. T.’s and the
Annie Bcsant Lodge in Huizen organised
a study-weekend, during which Mr.
D. J. P. Kok, President of the T. S.,
Point Loma/Covina was guest-speaker
with a lecture on 44 The Egyptian Book
of the Dead ”, illustrated with slides.

France .—Michel Chapotin wrote in
January 1969 that they had restarted

112

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

monthly Y. T. meetings at the Theoso-
phical Society in Paris. An open letter
to all Thcosophists in France. Belgium
and Switzerland would be published in
the journal Le Lotus Bleu under the
title: “Do you know the Young Theo-
sophists?”, to inform a large number of
Thcosophists about the existence of the
movement. Through this action Michel
hoped to get addresses of young people
who were interested.

Sweden .—The Swedish group of Y. T.’s
is loosely organised and has no members
in the usual sense of the word. Every¬
body who attends a meeting is part of the
group. They have meetings every second
week, usually on Saturdays. They first
have a discussion and then drink tea.
The group consists of about 20 persons.
They try to invite somebody who is
familiar with a problem that they want
to discuss and let him or her give an
introduction. After the introduction they
have a discussion, and all join in. Un¬
fortunately they have not always been
able to to find somebody willing to help
them with the introduction. In 1969
they have, among other things, discussed
the following topics: reincarnation, the
Sarvodaya movement in India, and the
problem in Tibet today. One evening
they looked at pictures of the 1968 camp
of the European Federation of Y. T.’s,
in Denmark. Sometimes the lack of
activity was felt badly, for instance
when they were only a few, or when
they had nobody to give an introduc¬
tion.

Pakistan .—The group of Y. T.’s held
study classes twice every month. The
major topics studied were The Epitome
of Theosophy by W. Q. Judge and Key to
Theosophy by H. P. Blavatsky. There
is often a lively discussion at the meetings.
About four to five persons attend these
meetings and no new members have joined
for some time.

Ghana .—The Young Thcosophists
Group of Ghana was formed in 1970.
In April 1971, A. S. Ansong, National
Organiser, reported as follows: “ Our
local group formed a year ago has only
now been fully organised. The member¬
ship. made up of the young people in the
local Theosophical Society and students
in Colleges, now numbers about 50.

Last quarter we ordered some Theoso¬
phical literature for free distribution to
the students in order to maintain their
interest in Theosophy. During the last
Annual Convention of the Theosophical
Society in West Africa held over Easter
the Executive met to consider suitable
plans of work to bring Theosophy to the
notice of the youth in Ghana.

It is understood that there is a branch
of Young Thcosophists in Nigeria in
Ibadan University. We shall try to
contact them so that we can link up with
them. We would also like to hear from
groups in other countries.’’

Mexico .—Estela Salas, in Tijuana, B. C.,
Mexico, wrote in December 1970: “ We
have members from 12 to 22 years old,
three of us arc High School teachers.
We expect to have a big group of young
people next year.’’

New Zealand .—The Auckland Y. T.’s
hold meetings once a week to which
anyone and everyone is welcome, and
have an average attendance of about
fifteen people although the mailing list
is actually nearer thirty, with programs
aimed at covering everything—religion,
science, world problems, ideals—in fact
anything of interest. They wrote: “A
number of us arc saving to come to New
York for the 1975 Convention—but as a
large number arc students, there is a
fifty-fifty chance that the Bankruptcy
Courts will claim half of us first...!”

The Y. T.’s in New Zealand would
like to correspond with Y. T.’s aged 18-25
in other parts of the world, writes Susan

THE WORLD FEDERATION OF YOUNG THEOSOPHISTS

113

Macintyre, II Ward Tcc., Auckland 3,
New Zealand. She is Secretary of the
Auckland group, and she says that living
in a rather isolated country, they would
be interested in the ideas and activities
of Y. T.’s elsewhere in the world.

Canada .—When Bill Bruyns presided
over the Toronto group of Young Theo-
sophists for the 1968-1969 season, he
wrote to Margrect Meijer, our Newsletter
Editor: “ We arc trying to make Theo¬
sophy adaptive to our modern society
through group projects relating to social
action and research into psychic phenom¬
ena. determining the effect and utility
in a modern industrial society. We also
hope to establish a summer camp for
Young Theosophists in this area in the
summer of 1969. We arc trying to make
Theosophy part of social dynamics”.
In a recent letter Bill wrote that at the
moment there is no organised Youth
Group. There are however many young
people who attend the discussions and
lectures of the Lodge.

U. S. ,4.—The W. F. Y. T. Council
Meeting of July 1969 was held in this
country at the time of the Annual Con¬
vention-Summer School of the American
Section of theT. S..at Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

The American Federation of Y. T.’s
organised a camp at Ann Arbor, Michigan,
in August 1969. with the theme “ Man
and his Relationships ”. The problem
was approached in three ways: (1) Man
seeking to understand himself. (2) Man as
a member of society; communicating
and relating to others, (3) Man in the
modern world, feeling the impact of
science and technology; education to
help Man understand this environment
and assume his role in society. Theoso¬
phy as an underlying attitude as well as
a body of natural laws governing the
universe, pervaded all the discussions.

A Thanksgiving Workshop was held
in November 1969 at Palos Park, Illinois.

with 19 participants. Activities on the
program were a panel discussion “ How
one can better his understanding of other
people ”, a group therapy session, and
an impromptu entertainment evening.

The 1970 Y. T. summer camp was held
at Pumpkin Hollow, 125 miles from New
York City. This is a non-profit vacation
community, owned and operated by the
North Hast Federation of the Theoso-
phical Society in America. The theme
for the camp was: “The Challenge of
Today’s Youth—Building a New World ”.
A number of Y. T.’s are exploring pos¬
sibilities for a Y. T. community center,
community or commune. In August 1971
the American Y. T.’s held their camp at
“ Far Horizons ” which is a permanent
Thcosophical Camp located in Sequoia
National Forest. California. The Y. T.
camp was held as part of the Far
Horizons School. 1971, and the theme
was: “A Yoga of Aware Groupness”.

Conclusion .—Although Charlie Chesrow
is Secretary of the W. F. Y. T. since
June 1st, 1971, I decided to complete
the report up to October 1971: most
papers concerning this last year were
with me.

I should like to close with a letter
which I received from Lena and Jean-
Bernard Cabanes (France), who arc
interested in the W. F. Y. T., though not
members.

‘‘The ideal of the Theosophists which
you find in the hearts of all those who have
felt that the world can only be built in
peace, the respect for the different, love
for man, and the development of his
small inner seed which most societies
choke before it can come to unfold....
To think this, you do not necessarily have
to be a Thcosophist, but very few realize
it. and it would be necessary to convince
people of that, and to experiment if one
wants society to be more harmonious—
simply human. A society which enables

114

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

a person to become that for which he
exists.

“ How do the Theosophists, and partic¬
ularly the World Federation of Young
Theosophists see this problem? And
how do they conceive the solution? We
know only what is written in the Consti¬
tution but what about the practice? What

are the long term goals, and which are the
means by which they should be reached?*’.

1 think it is important that we, indi¬
vidually and as groups, ask ourselves
these questions. . . !

Mira Brandt-Bodrogi,
Past General Secretary.

HEADQUARTERS

ADYAR, MADRAS 20
OFFICERS
1 October 1971

Executive Committee:

(1) The President

(2) The Vice-President

(3) The Recording Secretary

(4) The Treasurer

(5) Srimati Rukmini Devi

(6) Mrs. Radha Burnier

(7) Mrs. Norma Y. Sastry

(8) Mr. C. D. T. Shores

(9) Mr. K. N. Ramanathan

Adyar Library: Director: Mrs. Radha Burnier.

Librarian: Mrs. Seetha Neelakantan.

Archives: Mr. Z. de Algya-Pap.

Bhojanasala: Superintendent: K. B. Gosathkar.

Estate Administration Committee: Secretary: Mrs. Norma Y. Sastry.
Garden Department: Adviser: Mr. N. Yagnesvara Sastry.

Information Department: Professor H. E. Hakim.

Laundry: Superintendent: Mr. M. V. Gopalakrishna Iyer.

Leadbeater Chambers: Superintendent: Mrs. Alwyn Miechel.

Legal Adviser: Mr. N. K. Choksy, Q.C.

Maintenance Department: Adviser: Mr. J . B. Singh.

Medical and Sanitary Department: Medical Officer: Dr. S. V. Joseph.
Movable Properties Department: Custodian: Mr. N. S. Narasimhachari.
Public Relations Officer: Professor H. E. Hakim.

The School of the Wisdom: Principal: Mr. N. Sri Ram.

The Theosophical Publishing House: Manager: Mr. K. N. Ramanathan.
The Theosophist : Asst. Editor: Mrs. Bridget Paget.

The Vasanta Press: Manager: Mr. K. Ramanathan.

Watch and Ward Department: Superintendent: Mr. D. V. Subramaniam.

^ Ex-o fficio

THE THEOSOPHICAL PUBLISHING HOUSE

ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1970-71

The Thcosophical Publishing House
registered a peak turnover of business
during the year, reaching a total of Rs.
5,70,600 against Rs. 3.53,600 in the pre¬
vious year. Orders received from The
Quest Books, Wheaton, for the supply of
printed sheets of books in quantities
varying from 7,500 to 25,000 sheets
contributed much to this.

New Publications. —Three new publi¬
cations were issued during the year.
These were The Hidden Wisdom in the
Holy Bible, Vol. Ill, by Geoffrey Hod-
son; H.P.Blavatsky and The Secret
Doctrine, compiled by Virginia Hanson;
and the pamphlet, Creative Living, by
Ram Jivan Sinha.

We also supplied reproduction prints
for a new book to be published by The
Thcosophical Publishing House, Wheaton
—The Opening of the Wisdom Eye,
by H.H. the Dalai Lama. An Indian
edition of this book will be published by
us in 1972.

New Editions and Reprints. —A heavy
program of reprinting was executed dur¬
ing the year. We printed sheets of the
following books for the Thcosophical
Publishing House, Wheaton: The Ageless
Wisdom of Life (Clara M. Codd). 10,000
copies; The Light of Asia (Sir Edwin
Arnold), 7,500; Thought-Forms (Annie
Besant and C.W. Lead beater), 15,000;
Man Visible and Invisible (C.W. Lead-
beater), 15.000; The Chakras (C.W. Lead-
beater), 25.000; and The Science of
Yoga (I. K. Taimni), 10,000. These
reprint orders were the largest we have
handled and they kept both us and the
Vasanta Press busy throughout the year.

In addition, we completed the reprinting
of Vols. IV and V of The Secret Doctrine
during the year, and did a part of the work
on Vol. VI. Other titles reprinted for T.P.
H., Adyar, in 1970-71 were: A Message to
Members of the T.S., by an Elder Brother,
Karma (Besant). Thought-Forms , and
Talks on the Path of Occultism, Vol. I
(Besant and Leadbeater), Meditation. Its
Practice and Results (Clara M. Codd),
Light on the Path (Mabel Collins), Rein¬
carnation, Fact or Fallacy (Geoffrey
Hodson), Clairvoyance, Man Visible and
Invisible, The Devachanic Plane, and A
Textbook of Theosophy (Leadbeater), The
Child, Peace and Education and The Forma¬
tion of Man (Madame Montessori),
Addresses to New Members (Leaders of the
T.S.) and Lalitha Sahasranaman (Subra-
manya Sastri).

The demand for Thcosophical literature
from the United States is reflected in the
large reprint orders for 7.500 to 25,000
sheets of some books, recorded above.

To relieve pressure on The Vasanta
Press, we had to get three of our books
re-printed outside. These were The
Hidden Wisdom in the Holy Bible, Vol. Ill,
Man: Whence, How and Whither, and The
Beginnings of the Sixth Root Race. Work
on the latter two books was completed only
after the close of the year. Two other
titles which are similarly being reprinted
outside arc A Study in Consciousness and
The Hidden Wisdom in the Holy Bible, Vol.
II. This step became necessary in order to
keep pace with the demand for our publica¬
tions. Even after adopting it, we have
not been able to complete some of our
work by the planned dates.

THE THEOSOPHICAL PUBLISHING HOUSE

Revision of Books. —We are indebted to
Miss Helen V. Zahara for her continued
help in the revision of books in our
reprinting program. The object of
such revision has been to take note of
recent developments in scientific and
other thought, as well as of modern print¬
ing style. Care has been taken not to
change the phrasing of the authors or
their mode of presentation, but a few-
omissions and verbal alterations have
been made so that in the light of develop¬
ments in world afTairs and thinking, the
meaning of the authors may be made
clearer.

Book Price.— In spite of the rise in
paper prices and printing and binding
costs, we were able to reduce the prices of
nine more books (four in soft covers,
three in hard covers and one in both
bindings). Thus in the past three years
the prices of 28 publications have been
reduced, most of them in soft covers.
Reductions were made this year in the
prices of the following books: Clairvo¬
yance, Reincarnation. Fact or Fallacy,
Karma, The Devachanic Plane, Man Visible
and Invisible, Talks on the Path of
Occultism, Vol. I, The Chakras, A Text¬
book of Theosophy and The Science of
Yoga.

Workers. —After working for some
months as Assistant Editor of The
Theosophist, Miss Marion Caws left for
Australia, Mrs. Bridget Paget taking
her place. We have continued to receive
the help of a number of residents in the
Estate in proof correction, and also in the
evaluation of Manuscripts, and express
our thanks to them. We have to record
the passing away during the year of Mr.
S. Nagaratnam, who had worked on the
staff of the T.P.H. for 26 years, and was
Accountant at the time of his death.

The Theosophist. —The circulation of
77ie Theosophist remained steady during
the year. The Theosophical Publishing

117

House, Wheaton, The Theosophical
Publishing House, London and a number
of National Sections of the Society and
also individual Theosophists have conti¬
nued their help in registering and collect¬
ing subscriptions and we arc thankful to
all of them.

Book-Gift Fund. —The recipients in¬
cluded Sections and Federations of the
Theosophical Society, as well as Lodges,
public libraries and individuals, mostly
in economically underdeveloped coun¬
tries. Gifts were made on the recom¬
mendations of National Secretaries,
Secretaries of Federations and Lodges,
and National Lecturers, as well as other
leading Theosophists who had personal
knowledge of the requirements of the
recipients. Mr. J. K. Patnaik and Mr.
B. K. Patnaik continued their support of
the Fund by monthly donations through¬
out the year, sending their own contri¬
butions and collections they had made for
the purpose. A gift of photographs of
Dr. Arundale and Mr. Jinarajadasa was
sent to Indonesia and the Philippines
thanks to the generosity of Mr. John
B. Coats, who also financed gifts of books.
Donations received by the Fund dur¬
ing the year totalled Rs. 11.270, against
an expenditure during the year of
Rs. 9,758.

H.P.BIavatsky Publications Reserve
Fund— Following a suggestion made by
the National President of The Thcoso-
phical Society in America. Miss Joy Mills,
at a meeting of the General Council
last year, the T.P.H., Adyar, has started
an H.P.B. Publications Reserve Fund, to
make Madame Blavatsky’s books available
at prices more attractive to the buyer. An
allocation of Rs. 35,000 has been made to
the Fund this year.

Finances. —The gross income from sales
was higher by Rs. 43,000, owing to larger
orders for printing of sheets from the
United States. Sales of incense sticks

118

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPH1CAL SOCIETY

increased by Rs. 6,300 following higher
demand from the American market, but
the income from sales of Adyar Library
Publications fell by Rs. 18.000.

The larger turnover necessitated an
increase in staff, and establishment costs
increased by Rs. 3,000. Royalty payments

rose by Rs. 8.000 owing to higher sales of
books.

The H. P. Blavatsky Publications Re¬
serve has been created this year with an
allocation of Rs. 35,000.

K.N. Ramanathan,
Manager,

THE ADYAR LIBRARY AND RESEARCH CENTRE

It is my privilege once again after a
period of three years to present a report
of work done in the Adyar Library and
Research Centre. At the outset I wish to
place on record my sincere thanks and
appreciation to Mr. V. Ramanatha Ayyar
who so ably carried on the work of
Librarian during my absence from India.

During the year under report a sub¬
stantial grant of $ 6500 (Rs. 48.750) was
received from the Ford Foundation, India,
toward the airconditioning of a portion
of the MSS. stacks. We arc glad to
announce that airconditioning has been
installed in the bigger of the two manu-
cripts stack rooms and has been in opera¬
tion since 1st October 1971. We take
this opportunity to express the grateful
thanks of the Adyar Library to the Ford
Foundation for making this project
possible. It is hoped funds will be
available in the very near future to get the
second room airconditioned also.

Another major project was the pur¬
chase of five fire extinguishers costing
Rs. 2,672 and their installation in the pre¬
mises. This was made possible by a
generous donation from the Eso¬
teric School of Theosophy.

Staff:

During the year Pandit S. Aravamuda-
chariar. who was cataloguing the Tamil
MSS. in the library's collections besides
helping in other projects of the research
section, was relieved of his work due to
ill-health. It is hoped that as his health
improves he will be able to rejoin our
staff and complete the work undertaken
by him.

The services of Mr. K. Krishna Sarma
were also discontinued as the task under¬

taken by him, namely preparing slips for
the manuscripts in the library to be
posted in the MSS. register was completed.
Mrs. Kalpagam Nagaratnam was appoint¬
ed in July in the repair section.

Dr. V. Raghavan and Dr. K. Kunjunni
Raja continue to be Advisers and on the
Editorial Board and Council of the
Library, helping in many ways in its work.
Our heartfelt appreciation and thanks
to them both.

Publications:

Part I of the Amarakoia , a classic
Sanskrit lexicon, with the hitherto un¬
published South Indian commentaries of
Lingayyasurin and Mallinatha and with
extensive English Introduction was released
as No. 101 of the Adyar Library Series.
The press copy for the second part of this
work with the commentary of Bommagan|i
Appayarya is in progress and it is hoped
to have this printed shortly.

Other publications released during the
year were: a revised edition of the
Y'eddnta-parihhdfa with English transla¬
tion and notes; and a revised translation
of K. Narayanasami Iyer's Laghu-Yoga-
Yds if {ha brought out as Adyar Library
General Series 3. This was also serially
featured in the Brahmavidva , Vols. 34 and
35, 1-2. The Descriptive Catalogue of
Saipkhya, Nyaya, etc. manuscripts is
nearing completion and it is hoped to
release this as No. 100 of the Adyar
Library Scries shortly. The library has
also undertaken the publication of Sri-
haricaritam of Padmanabha Sastrin, a
mahdkdvya dealing with the story of Sri
Kp$na. This is edited by Prof. T.
Vcnkatacharya of the Toronto Univer¬
sity.

120

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Sales:

Since June 1969 when The Theosophical
Publishing House, Wheaton, III., U.S.A.,
was appointed as agents for North and
South Americas and Japan, the Adyar
Library publications in this part of the
world have been selling very well. Special
mention must be made here of the wide
publicity given through advertisements in
various university and research journals
as well as the exhibiting of the Adyar
Library Scries in the Asian Studies Con¬
ferences in San Francisco in 1970 and in
Washington in 1971.

Arrangements have been made for The
Theosophical Publishing House. London,
to take over the agency from January
1972 from E.J.Brill and Luzac & Co.
for United Kingdom and Europe so that
the sales in this part of the world can be
increased and greater attention can be
given to inquiries, etc. The Theosophical
Publishing House. Adyar, are distributors
of all our publications besides being
agents for countries not covered by the
publishing houses in London and
Wheaton. It is hoped that between these
three publishing houses of the Theosophi¬
cal Society, the sales of the Adyar Library
Series will be boosted and will reach a
wider area than before, particularly in
these times when there is a good deal of
interest in the wisdom and culture of the
East.

Adyar Library Bulletin:

As mentioned above vols. 34 and 35,
1-2, of the journal for 1970 and May 1971
were released during the year. The
bulletin records 154 subscribers and is
exchanged with 133 journals.

Manuscripts Register:

The work of checking the palm-leaf
MSS. and preparing slips with details for
each MS. was completed. No progress

was made in the entries in the register
as these arc still to be scrutinized.

Services Rendered:

Microfilms of 21 MSS. and 16 books,
and photostat copies of 2 MSS. and 26
journals and books were supplied on
request. This includes copies of articles
from books and journals on theosophical
education to a scholar in Australia who
is engaged in research into the contri¬
bution of Theosophy to the educational
movement in the world; and books,
articles, reviews, etc. on and by Ananda
K. Coomaraswamy for a scholar in
Malaysia.

Works Used:

The library has now 331 readers, 113
resident readers cum borrowers, 101
borrowers (from the city) and 23 Braille
borrowers. During the year under report
4385 persons used the library; 24,645
books and 6415 MSS. were consulted
on the premises; and 4332 books and
15 MSS. were taken out.

Research Scholars:

Among the many scholars who utilized
the library for research excluding those
from the various universities and insti¬
tutions in India, the following may be
mentioned: Prof. J. B. Long. Havcrford
College, Penn.; Dr. W. J. H. Collins,
Dublin University; Mr. C. J. Baker and
Mr. D. Washbrook, University of Cam¬
bridge; Mr. C. J. G. Van dcr Burg,
Sanskrit Lecturer, Utrecht University;
Dr. S. Gupta, also of the University of
Utrecht; Miss Anita Diehl, Lund Uni¬
versity, Sweden; Mr. Hermann Kulke,
University of Heidelberg; and Mr. M. C.
Moulton, University of Manitoba,
Canada.

Repair & Preservation:

180 volumes of journals and 37 books
were bound in the Vasanta Press of the

THE ADYAR LIBRARY AND RESEARCH CENTRE

121

Thcosophical Society. 582 books and
24 paper manuscripts were repaired and
bound in the library repair section.
92 palm-leaf MSS. were cleaned and
repaired where necessary while 6 MSS.
and 19 books were hand-laminated.

Microfilm Equipment:

The microfilming equipment with the
reader and enlarger is now installed in
the library and being operated on the
premises with the kind help of Mr.
E. F. Orfila, assisted by Miss C. Malati
who is now learning the work. During
the year under report a glazing machine
and other necessary equipment were
added to supply photostat copies of the
books and MSS., when requested, besides
microfilms. The latter are now being
processed in the library laboratory itself.
Our sincere thanks go to Mr. Orfila for
looking after the filming and processing
besides supervising the repair and binding
section.

Acquisition and Cataloguing:

Books .—Out of the 2731 books received
during the year. 1956 have been duly
catalogued and cards made. 219 of
these were purchased, 45 were exchanges
and the rest were gifts.

Out of the 1470 books, excluding
journals, received as gifts, 1166, mostly
on Education and Psychology, were from
Mr. G. V. Subba Rao; 142 were from vari¬
ous research institutions and scholars in
India through the Ministry of Education
and Youth Services, New Delhi; 97 from
The Thcosophical Publishing Houses,
Adyar, London and Wheaton; 81 through
The Theosophist Office, Adyar; 77 from
the Education Department, The Theoso-
phical Society in U.S.A., through Mrs.
Seetha Neelakantan; 39 from Mr. P. M.
Advani; 35 from the U.S.I.S., New Delhi;
33 from Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Thadani;
36 from Miss E. Nisewanger; 34 from Mr.

Tara Singh, U.S.A.; 29 through the
Recording Secretary’s office; 28 from
Miss C. Yamuna; 25 from the Inter¬
national President and through his office;
27 from Mr. C. P. Natarajan; 21 from
Mrs. I. Borodin, Switzerland; 14 from
the Philosophical Research Society, Los
Angeles, Calif., being works of Manly
P. Hall; and 11 each from The Theoso-
phical Society in Canada and from “ a
member” in London through T.P.H.,
Adyar. Our thanks are also due to the
Theosophical Book Association for the
Blind for 56 Braille books and to Matilda
Ziegler Pub. Co., U.S.A., and the Scottish
Braille Press for 20 titles in Braille.
Particular mention is to be made of a gift
by Mrs. Radha Burnicr of Rs. 1,928
worth of books on Indology, published
outside India, besides a donation of 42
other titles of value. We also take this
opportunity to extend our appreciation
and thanks to all these and to many other
friends in India and abroad who have
donated books (less than 10 each) to
the library.

Manuscripts:

During the year 94 manuscripts were
received as gifts, 8 from Mr. S. Ranga-
rajan, 1 from Mr. K. Krishna Sarma,
82 from Mr. Budalur Krishnamurthi
Sastrigal, 1 Burmese palm-leaf MS. from
Mr. Francis Brunei and 3 paper MSS.
from Mrs. Eva Soncnstein. 9 of these
have been catalogued and numbered
while 52 have been examined. The
library records its appreciative thanks
to all these donors.

Book Cataloguing:

456 books in the Social Sciences
category have been reclassified and detailed
subject reference cards have been made.
Due to a large number of new titles
gifted to the library, the reclassification
had to be temporarily stopped in order

122

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

to complete the cataloguing of these new
books.

Donations:

The Library also takes this opportunity
to record its grateful appreciation to a
“ Friend ” (who wishes to remain anony¬
mous) who has during the year made a
handsome contribution of Rs. 5,662. Also
to the late Mr. Albert Sassi, Mrs. E.Von
Labon of Munich and Mr. and Mrs. S.
Morya Das, U.S.A., for their contribu¬
tions.

Visitors:

Amongst the many visitors to the
library the following need special mention:
Dr. K. L. Jancrt. Institut fur Indologie,
University of Koln; Prof. Yukci
Matsunaga, Koyasan University, Japan;
Mr. Donald E. Jones, University of
Chicago; Mr. Shorcn lhara, Kyushu
University, Japan; Mr. Henry Scholberg,
South Asia University of Minnesota.
Minneapolis; Sardar Ujjal Singh, former
Governor of Madras; Mr. W. B. Evans,
Jr., Prof, of Philosophy, Arkansas Uni¬
versity; Mr. K. K. Shah, the present
Governor of Madras; Dr. B. R. Gopal,
Kannada Research Institute, Dharwar;
Dr. G. Manila Siddhiah. Director,
Oriental Research Institute, Mysore
University; Mr. R. Srinivasan, Reader
in Politics, University of Bombay;
Dr. Indu R. Rao, Delhi University; and
Dr. S. Karagulla and Dr. V. P. Neal of
California.

It is gratifying to note that the library,
with its valuable collections of books
covering a wide variety of subjects as well
as 17,100 MSS., is now better known to
the public of Madras and attracting more
serious readers. But the potential of the
Adyar Library’s collections in contribu¬
ting to the study of comparative religions,
philosophies and civilization is still to
be fully tapped. The manuscript and
book collections including the 350 or
so journals—which arc of great value
particularly to research fellows, being the
source for the flowing current of research—
attract scholars and serious students of
wisdom including a number of young
people from the West who are much
interested in the Eastern philosophies.
With the increasing number of housing
colonies round and near Adyar the users
of the library have increased considerably.
Quite a few journalists coming to know
about the magnificent record of service
of the library to the world of pure learning
are interested in writing about the library
in various popular journals. It is hoped
that all these, and the wonderful facilities
offered by the institution to all true stu¬
dents of wisdom will enable the library
to provide for the Theosophical Society
in a greater measure a meeting ground
for the wisdom of the East and the scienti¬
fic approach of the West, leading to
universal goodwill and the purest en¬
lightenment.

Seetha Neelakantan,

Librarian.

SCHOOL OF THE WISDOM

As an experiment this session was
shortened to three months, from Novem¬
ber 17, 1970 to February 16, 1971, with
Miss lanthc Hoskins, M.A., again as
Director of Studies.

When the School opened on November
17th, there was an enrolment of 9 stu¬
dents, of whom 2 came from Sweden, 1
from Holland and 1 from Malaysia,
while the rest came from South India.

The School was officially opened on
the date mentioned, by the International
President, Mr. N. Sri Ram, who welcomed
the students, wishing them a happy and
fruitful time at Adyar and in their studies
in the School.

Miss Hoskins, the Director of Studies,
spoke briefly, mentioning the books for
study, namely. The Secret Doctrine by
Mme. Blavatsky, The Crest Jewel of
Wisdom ( Viveka Chudamani), and the
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. She also ex¬
pressed her view that it was important to
get down to work right away and to cut
out non-essentials. She said that the
work was difficult but that should not
dissuade the students. She was going
to indicate ways of study but the main
work would be done by the students on
their own.

Immediately follow ing this talk, refresh¬
ments were served to about 40 members
living on the Compound as well as to
the students.

Though the number of registered
students has been small, hardly a day
has passed without the presence of visitors
from overseas, or from other parts of
India.

For two weeks after Convention about
20 members, many from Bombay, joined
the classes temporarily as observers.
The international character of our Society
is amply illustrated by this continuous
stream of visitors, including members
from W. Germany, France, New Zealand,

Australia, the Philippines, E. Africa and
Brazil.

Visits were made to the various depart¬
ments on the Compound and the stu¬
dents are grateful for the unfailing readi¬
ness of the Heads of Departments to
spare the time necessary for this work,
including in some cases giving talks.

In a brief report it is not possible to
indicate all the varied aspects of the life
of the School but the integration of the
students into a harmonious group was
helped by invitations by individual mem¬
bers to visit their homes for lunch or
supper. In one ease one member of the
School entertained the whole group to a
Malaysian supper which was greatly
appreciated by everyone.

In concluding I would like to thank
the Director of Studies, for her willingness
to receive students in her room or else¬
where to discuss with them their problems,
and for coming again to direct the Studies
which have been so enriched by her own
deep knowledge.

Thanks must also be given to the staff
of the Bhojanasala for preparing the
refreshments for the Opening and Closing
meetings, to the cleaners who have kept
the lecture room so spotless throughout
the session, to our elderly attender who
turns up each year to prepare the daily
refreshments and to prepare the lecture
room for the daily classes.

Finally I would like to express the
gratitude of everyone to our International
President for making it possible to hold
the School each year in our beautiful
International Headquarters. It is to be
hoped that the students go away enriched
by their stay but also that the hard work¬
ing residents arc enriched by the arrival
in their midst of this international band
of students of the Ancient Wisdom.

Miss Marion Caws,
Secretary.

MEMORANDUM

ASSOCIATION, ETC.

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
No. 2 of 1905

I hereby certify, pursuant to Act XXI of 1860 of the Governor-
General of India in Council entitled “ An Act for the Registration
of Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies, 1860,” that The
Theosophical Society is duly incorporated as a Society under the
aforesaid Act.

Station, Madras,
Dated 3rd April 1905.

(Sd) A. Periyaswami Moodaliar,
Registrar of Joint Stock Companies.

THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Founded November 17, 1875, Incorporated April 3, 1905.

In the mailer of Act XXI of 1860 of the Ads of the Viceroy
and Governor-General of India in Council, being
an Act for the registration of literary ,
scientific and charitable Societies

and

In the Matter of The Theosophical Society

MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION

1. The name of the Association is The
Theosophical Society.

2. The objects for which the Society is
established are:

I. To form a nucleus of the Uni¬
versal Brotherhood of Humanity, with¬
out distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or
colour.

II. To encourage the study of
Comparative Religion, Philosophy, and
Science.

III. To investigate unexplained
laws of Nature and the powers latent in
man.

(a) The holding and manage¬
ment of all funds raised for the above
objects.

(b) The purchase or acquisition
on lease or in exchange or on hire or by

gift or otherwise of any real or personal
property, and any rights or privileges
necessary or convenient for the purposes
of the Society.

(d) The doing of all such
things as are incidental or conducive to
the attainment of the above objects or
any of them, including the founding
and maintenance of a library or
libraries.

3. The names, addresses and occupa¬
tions of the persons who are members of,
and form the first General Council which
is the governing body of the Society, are
as follows:

GENERAL COUNCIL
Ex-Offtcio

President-Founder :—H. S. Olcott, Adyar, Madras, Author.

Vice-President.— A. P. Sinnctt, London, England, Author.

Recording Secretary:— Hon. Sir S. Subramania Aiyar, Madras, Justice of the High

Court.

Treasurer: —W. A. English, M.D., Adyar, Madras, Retired Physician.

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

126

Alexander Fullerton, General Secretary,
American Section, 7, West 8th St.,
New York.

Upcndra Nath Basu, B.A., LL.B.,
General Secretary, Indian Section,
Benares, U.P.

Bertram Kcightley, M.A., General Secre¬
tary, British Section, 28, Albemarle St.,
London, W.

W. G. John, General Secretary, Aus¬
tralasian Section, 42, Margaret Street,
Sydney, N.S.W.

Arvid Knos, General Secretary, Scandi¬
navian Section, Engclbrcchtsgatan, 7,
Stockholm, Sweden.

C. W. Sanders, General Secretary, New
Zealand Section, Queen Street,
Auckland, N.Z.

W. B. Fricke, General Secretary,
Netherlands Section, 76, Amsteldijk,
Amsterdam.

Th. Pascal, M.D., General Secretary
French Section, 59, Avenue de la
Bourdonnais, Paris.

Dccio Calvari, General Secretary, Italian
Section, 380. Corso Umberto I., Rome.

Dr. Rudolf Steiner, General Secretary,
German Section, 95, Kaiscrallec, Fric-
denau, Berlin.

Jose M. Masso, Acting General Secretary,
Cuban Section, Havana, Cuba.

Additional

Annie Bcsant, Benares, Author, [for

3 years].

G. R. S. Mead, London, Author, [for

3 years].

Khan Bahadur Naoroji Dorabji Khan-
dalvala, Poona, Special Judge, [for

3 years].

Dinshaw Jivaji Edal Behram, Surat,
Physician, [for 2 years].

4. Henry Steel Olcott, who with the
late Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others
founded The Thcosophical Society at New
York, United States of America, in the
year 1875, shall hold, during his lifetime,
the position of President, with the title of
“ President-Founder,” and he shall have,
alone, the authority and responsibility and
shall exercise the functions provided in the
Rules and Regulations for the Executive
Committee, meetings of which he may
call for consultation and advice as he may
desire.

5. The income and property of the
Society, whencesoever derived, shall be
applied solely towards the promotion of
the objects of the Society as set forth
in this Memorandum of Association, and

Francesca E. Arundalc, Benares, Author,

[for 2 years].

Tammacharla Ramachandra Row, Gooty,
Retired Sub-Judge, [for 1 year].

Charles Blech, Paris, France, Retired
Manufacturer, [for 1 year].

no portion thereof shall be paid or trans¬
ferred directly or indirectly by way of
dividends, bonus, or otherwise by way of
profits to the persons who at any time
arc or have been members of the Society
or to any of them or to any person claim¬
ing through any of them: Provided that
nothing herein contained shall prevent the
payment in good faith of remuneration
to any officers or servants of the Society
or to any members thereof or other per¬
son in return for any services rendered to
the Society.

6. No member or members of the
General Council shall be answerable for
any loss arising in the administration
or application of the said trust funds or
sums of money or for any damage to or

RULES OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

127

deterioration in the said trust premises
unless such loss, damage or deterioration
shall happen by or through his or their
wilful default or neglect.

7. If upon the dissolution of the
Society there shall remain after the satis¬
faction of all its debts and liabilities any
property whatsoever, the same shall not
be paid to or distributed among the mem¬
bers of the Society or any of them but
shall be given or transferred to some other
Society or Association, Institution or
Institutions, having objects similar to
the objects of this Society, to be deter¬
mined by the votes of not less than
three-fifths of the members of the So-

Witnesscs to the signatures:

(Sd.) Wm. Glenny Keagey
„ Arthur Richardson
„ Pyare Lal
„ Peroze P. Meherjee

ciety present personally or by proxy
at a meeting called for the purpose,
or in default thereof by such Judge or
Court of Law as may have jurisdiction
in the matter.

8. A copy of the Rules and Regula¬
tions of the said Theosophical Society is
filed with this Memorandum of Associa¬
tion, and the undersigned being seven of
the members of the Governing Body of
the said Society do hereby certify that
such copy of such Rules and Regulations
of the said Theosophical Society is
correct.

As witness our several and respective
hands, this ... day of March 1905.

((Sd.) H. S. Olcott
j „ W. A. English
C „ SUBRAMANIAM

! „ Francesca E. Arundale
„ URendranath Basu
„ Annie Besant
„ N. D. Khandalvala

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE
ASSOCIATION NAMED “ THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY,” ADYAR, MADRAS

1. The General Council shall be the
Governing Body of The Theosophical
Society. All members of the General
Council shall at all times be Fellows of the
Society and not fewer than seven members
of this Council shall be resident in India.

2. (a) The President, the Vice-
President, the Treasurer, the Recording
Secretary and the General Secretaries of
the component National Societies (other¬
wise called Sections) shall ex-officio be
members of the General Council. The
terms of those members of the General
Council who hold office ex-officio shall
expire with the vacation of their qualifying
office.

( b ) The General Council shall in¬
clude not fewer than 5 and not more than
12 Additional Members, among whom all

past Presidents while in good standing
shall automatically have place. Other
members shall on the nomination of the
President be elected for a term of three
years by vote of the General Council at
its Annual Meeting, their names having
been sent to the Members of the General
Council at least three months before the
Annual Meeting.

(</) The Recording Secretary shall
be the Secretary of the General Council.

3. It shall be competent for the
General Council to remove any of its
members, or any officer of the Society
excepting the President of The Theosophi¬
cal Society and excepting the General
Secretaries of National Societies, by a

128

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

three-fourths majority of its whole num¬
ber of members, at a special meeting
called for the purpose, of which at least
three months’ notice shall have been given,
the quorum consisting, however, of not
fewer than five members.

4. (a) The General Council shall ordi¬
narily meet once a year, at the time of the
Annual Meeting or Convention of the
Society; but a special meeting may be
called at any time by the President, and a
meeting shall be called at any time by him,
or if not by him, by the Recording Secre¬
tary, on the written requisition of not
less than one-fourth of the total number
of members; but of such special meetings
not less than three months’ notice shall
be given, and the notice shall contain
a statement of the special business to be
laid before the meeting.

(b) Whenever, at any time or place,
a Convention or other function of the
Society shall bring together a number of
members of the General Council the
President at his discretion may call such
members to a meeting for the purpose of
study and discussion of any matters con¬
cerning the Society that he considers
appropriate to lay before them. The
meeting may then forward to the President
its report on such matters and may make
recommendations thereon. Such meetings
shall be of a consultative nature without
administrative or legislative authority.

In the event the President does not
himself attend such a meeting he may
appoint the Vice-President or some other
member of the General Council to preside
in his stead.

The President or his Deputy shall give
not less than thirty days’ notice of such
meeting to all members of the General
Council who may be expected to be
present at the function that provides oc¬
casion for the meeting, but all members
of the Council shall have the right to
attend.

5. (a) On the request of any member
of the General Council any resolution
or other item of business proposed by
such member shall be placed on the
Agenda, and circulated with brief sup¬
porting statements, for consideration
at the next meeting of the General
Council, provided that not less than
six months' notice of such resolution or
item of business shall be given to the
Recording Secretary.

(b) At all meetings of the General
Council, members thereof may vote in
person, or in writing, or by proxy duly
given to another member of the General
Council for the particular meeting con¬
cerned. Except as aforesaid no member
shall exercise more than one vote. No
member shall be allowed to exercise more
than 5 proxy votes.

Note: Meetings include Adjourned
Meetings.

6. The quorum of an ordinary as well
as of a special meeting of the General
Council shall be five members. If there
be no quorum, the meeting may be ad¬
journed sine die, or the Chairman of the
meeting may adjourn it to another date, of
which three months’ further notice shall
be given, when the business of the meet¬
ing shall be disposed of, irrespective of
whether there is a quorum present or not.

7. The President, or in his absence the
Vice-President, of the Society shall pre¬
side at all meetings of The Theosophical
Society or of the General Council, and
shall have a casting vote in the case of an
equal division of the members voting on
any question before the meeting.

8. In the absence of the President and
the Vice-President, the meeting shall elect
a chairman from among the members
present at the meeting, and he shall have
a casting vote in the case of a tie.

9. The term of office of the President
shall be seven years from the date of
assuming office.

RULES OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY,

129

10. Seven months before the expiration
of a President’s term of office, or within
three days of the office becoming vacant,
the Executive Committee shall ensure that
the Recording Secretary or other person
appointed by the Committee calls for
nominations for the office of President
from the members of the General Council
by air-mail and at the same time by ordi¬
nary mail. Any member of the Society
in good standing may be nominated.
Each member of the General Council
shall be entitled to make three nomina¬
tions, but each member of the General
Council who is a General Secretary,
Federation Secretary or Organizing Secre¬
tary, shall consult his Governing Body
before making nominations. The written
consent of the member nominated shall be
necessary for the validity of the nomina¬
tion. It shall be the responsibility of the
nominator to see that his nominations,
and also the written consent of the nomi¬
nees, reach the Recording Secretary within
three months of the date of the call for
nominations. No nominee shall be put
on the voting list unless supported by at
least five nominations.

At the expiration of three months, the
Recording Secretary shall place all the
nominations received, together with the
relevant papers, before the Executive
Committee at a meeting especially con¬
vened for the purpose. At such meeting
the Executive Committee shall examine
the nominations. The names of the
nominees qualified to be on the voting
list shall be listed in alphabetical order.
This list shall be the voting list and shall
not be subject to challenge.

The Recording Secretary shall then
immediately communicate by air-mail
(and at the same time by ordinary mail)
the voting list, together with the names of
the nominators of the respective candi¬
dates to the General Secretaries, Federa¬
tion Secretaries, Organizing Secretaries
17

and Presidential Agents and to the Lodges
(Branches) and Fellows-at-large attached
to Headquarters. Each General Secretary,
Federation Secretary, Organizing Secretary
and Presidential Agent shall make known
the names of the candidates and their res¬
pective nominators to the members in his
area and take the votes of the individual
members on the rolls of his National
Society or area of administration at the
close of the last official year of the
Section or area who have been members
of the Society in good standing for at
least one year previously and shall com¬
municate the result to the Recording
Secretary who shall himself take the votes
of the members of the Lodges (Branches)
and Fellows-at-large attached to Head¬
quarters at the close of the last official
year of the Society, who have been mem¬
bers of the Society in good standing for
at least one year previously. If only one
name remains on the voting list, the sub¬
sequent vote shall be taken on a “ For ”
or “ Against" ballot.

At the expiration of three months from
the date of issue of the voting list by the
Recording Secretary, the voting returns
shall be totalled by him. The Executive
Committee shall appoint two of its mem¬
bers as scrutineers. The Candidate re¬
ceiving the largest number of votes shall
be declared elected President and he shall
assume office thirty days thereafter. In
the event of a tic, or of the rejection of a
single candidate in a“ For” or “ Against”
ballot, or of a candidate on the voting list
dying or being so seriously incapacitated
as to be unable to carry out the Presi¬
dential duties if elected, after the despatch
of the voting list and before the final
totalling of votes by the Recording Secre¬
tary, the nomination and election proce¬
dure shall be repeated, and the President
in office or the Vice-President if he is tem¬
porarily filling such office, shall continue
therein until a new President assumes office.

130

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

11. (a) Within three months of assum¬
ing office the President shall nominate the
Vice-President, subject to confirmation by
the General Council. His term of office
shall be at the discretion of the President
but when the Vice-President has been three
years in office that office shall become
vacant by the passage of time and the
President, within three months, shall again
make a nomination and submit it to the
General Council. Notwithstanding this
provision the Vice-President shall remain
in office and his term shall continue until
a successor has been nominated and
confirmed. The Vice-President in office
may be renominated. It shall be his
duty, among other things, to carry on the
executive functions of the President in
case the President is dead or where the
Executive Committee finds that he is
disabled by accident, serious illness or
otherwise from performing the duties of
the President.

(6) Notwithstanding anything here¬
in contained the Vice-President doing
the duties of the President shall continue
to be the Vice-President of the Society
until a new Vice-President has been nomi¬
nated and his nomination confirmed by
the General Council. In case of death,
resignation or disability of such Vice-
President doing the duties of the President,
the Executive Committee shall appoint a
Vice-President who shall hold Office until
the new President shall have nominated a
new Vice-President and his nomination be
confirmed by the General Council.

12. The President shall appoint the
Treasurer, the Recording Secretary and
such subordinate officials as he may find
necessary, which appointments shall be
reported to the Executive Committee for
consideration at its next following meet¬
ing. and shall become valid if approved
by a majority of votes of the whole number
at the said meeting, the newly appointed
officials not being present nor counting

as members of the Executive Committee
for purposes of such votes. The Execu¬
tive Committee may remove any of these
appointees, by a vote of three-fourths of
the whole number of its members. In
this event, the President shall make a new
appointment.

13. The Treasurer. Recording Secre¬
tary and subordinate officials being assist¬
ants to the President in his capacity
as executive officer of the General
Council, the President shall have the
authority to remove any appointee to
such offices.

14. The General Council shall at each
Annual Meeting appoint an Executive
Committee for the ensuing year, of not
less than seven and not more than ten
members, of whom at least six shall be
members of the General Council. The
President, the Vice-President, the Trea¬
surer, and the Recording Secretary shall
be ex-officio members. Vacancies caused
by death or resignation or otherwise may
be filled by co-optation.

15. The Executive Committee shall
meet at least once in every three months
for the receipt and consideration of
accounts and the despatch of any other
business. A special meeting may be called
by the President whenever he thinks fit,
and such meeting shall be called by him.
or if not by him, by the Recording Secre¬
tary, when he is required to do so, by not
fewer than three members of the Com¬
mittee, who shall state to him in writing
the business for which they wish the
meeting to assemble.

16. At a meeting of the Executive
Committee, three members shall consti¬
tute a quorum.

17. The Committee shall, in the ab¬
sence of the President and Vice-President,
elect a Chairman to preside over the
meeting and in case of equality of votes
the Chairman for the time being shall
have a casting vote.

RULES OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

131

18. The President shall be the custo¬
dian of all the archives and records of
the Society, and shall be the Executive
Officer and shall conduct and direct the
business of the Society in compliance
with its rules; he shall be empowered to
make temporary appointments and to fill
provisionally all vacancies that occur in
the offices of the Society, and shall
have discretionary powers in all matters
not specifically provided for in these
Rules.

19. All subscriptions, donations and
other moneys payable to the Association
shall be received by the President, or the
Treasurer, or the Recording Secretary,
the receipt of either of whom in writing
shall be sufficient discharge for the same.

20. The securities and uninvested
funds of The Society shall be deposited in
the State Bank of India, Madras, or such
other Bank or Banks as the Executive
Committee, T.S., shall select; and in
countries outside of India, in such Banks
as the President shall select. Cheques
drawn against the funds shall be signed by
any two of the following, the President,
the Treasurer, the Recording Secretary
and any other persons appointed by
the President for the purpose under
Rule 12.

21. (a) Notwithstanding anything in
these rules to the contrary the President
may, touching the assets and affairs of
the Society beyond India, at any time
and from time to time by a Power of
Attorney appoint any persons to be the
Attorneys of the Society for such period
and subject to such conditions and for
such purposes and with such authorities
and powers as he may think fit, and he
may if necessary affix the Seal of the
Society thereto.

Without prejudice to the general powers
conferred as aforesaid, the President may
grant power and authority among others
to sell, grant mortgage, lease or otherwise

transfer the assets of the Society, movable
or immovable, real or personal, and to
receive subscriptions, donations, legacies,
moneys and other property, movable or
immovable, and to institute, continue,
compromise, compound or refer to arbi¬
tration any actions, suits, or other proceed¬
ings, and to take and hold shares in any
Company, and to vote at any meetings
thereof, and to sub-delegate all or any of
his powers, and to give receipts and re¬
leases, and to sign, seal and deliver any
instrument or document and have the
same registered.

(6) The funds of the Society may
be invested by the President, with the
advice and consent of the Executive Com¬
mittee, in Government or other Public
securities, or in the purchase of immovable
property or First Mortgages on such
property.

(c) The Adyar Estate of the Society
in Madras including the Society's original
Headquarters and all other properties in
Adyar since acquired by gift, purchase
or otherwise, shall not at any time be
disposed of by sale, gift, exchange, mort¬
gage or otherwise; save that the Presi¬
dent, if specially authorized by a resolu¬
tion of the General Council, passed by
a three-fourths vote of their members,
voting in person, in writing or by proxy,
may dispose of such outlying portions of
the said Adyar Estate, as may be specified
in such Resolutions.

(J) The President may, with the
advice and consent of the Executive Com¬
mittee, sell, mortgage or otherwise trans¬
fer any investment in Government or
other Public securities, or any movable
or immovable property of the Society
other than those mentioned in Rule
21(c).

22. (a) All deeds whereby immovable
properties belonging to the Society are
transferred or otherwise dealt with shall
have affixed to them the Seal of the

132

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Society with the signature of the President
and of the Recording Secretary. In case
of the absence of the President or where
the Executive Committee finds that he is
by reason of disability caused by accident,
illness or otherwise, unable to act, it may
appoint two of its members to sign in
place of the President.

(6) All transfers of movable prop¬
erty, if in writing, shall bear the signa¬
ture of the President and of the Recording
Secretary but need not have affixed to
them the Seal of the Society. In case of
the absence of the President or where the
Executive Committee finds that he is by
reason of disability caused by accident,
illness or otherwise, unable to act, it may
appoint two of its members to sign in
place of the President.

Note: The procedure detailed in this
Rule is without prejudice to the powers
conferred under Rule 21 (a).

23. The Society may sue and be sued
in the name of the President.

24. The Recording Secretary may,
with the authority of the President, or of
the two substitutes appointed according
to Rule 22, affix the Seal of the Society on
all instruments requiring to be scaled,
and all such instruments shall be signed by
the President or by the two substitutes
above mentioned and the Recording
Secretary.

25. On the death or resignation of the
President, the Recording Secretary shall
at once make arrangements for the elec¬
tion of a new President, in accordance
with Rule 10, and until such new President
is elected the Vice-President shall perform
the duties of President.

Headquarters

26. Headquarters of the Society are
established at Adyar, Madras, and arc
outside the jurisdiction of the Indian
Section.

27. The President shall have full power
and discretion to permit to any person the
use of any portion or premises in the
Adyar Estate for occupation and residence,
on such terms as the President may
lay down, or to refuse permission so to
occupy or reside. Any person occupying
or residing under the permission granted
by the President shall, on a fortnight’s
notice given by or on behalf of the Presi¬
dent, unconditionally quit the premises
before the expiry of that period.

Organization

28. Every person of ten full years of
age, without distinction of race, creed,
sex, caste or color, shall be eligible for
membership in the Society, but those
under the age of eighteen shall be admitted
to membership only with the written
consent of parent or guardian, and shall
have no right to vote until they have
reached the age of eighteen years.

29. (a) Admission to membership may
be obtained through the President of a
Lodge (Branch), the General Secretary of
a National Society, or through the Record¬
ing Secretary; and a Diploma (Certificate)
of membership shall be issued to the
Fellow, bearing the signature of the Presi¬
dent, and countersigned by the General
Secretary, where the applicant resides
within the territory of a National Society,
or countersigned by the Recording Secre¬
tary, if admission to membership has been
obtained through the Recording Secretary.

(6) The date of membership will
begin:

(i) When admission has been made
through the General Secretary, Federa¬
tion Secretary or Presidential Agent from
the date of acceptance by the General
Secretary, Federation Secretary or Presi¬
dential Agent, as entered by him and
duly reported to the Recording Secretary
at Adyar.

RULES OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

133

(ii) When admission has been made
through the Recording Secretary, from
the date of acceptance of the application
by him, and so recorded in his office.

30. Lodges (Branches) and Fellows,
whether unattached or attached to a
Lodge (Branch), residing within the terri¬
tory of a National Society, shall normally
belong to that National Society, unless
coming under Rule 31.

Provided that with the consent of the
General Secretaries concerned a member
who belongs to one National Society may
while retaining his membership of that
National Society belong to another
National Society, but he shall not be
allowed to cast more than one vote in mat¬
ters relating to The Theosophical Society.

When a National Society under its own
rules provides for Life Membership in that
National Society, such Life Membership
shall no longer be effective where a Mem¬
ber resides in the territory of or transfers
his membership to another National
Society, unless the specific approval of
the General Secretaries concerned has
been granted.

31. (a) When an individual Fellow in
good standing, for any serious and weighty
reason, sufficient in the opinion of the
President to justify such action, is desirous
of leaving the National Society to which
he belongs, but is not desirous of leaving
The Theosophical Society, such individual
Fellow may become directly attached to
Headquarters, Adyar, severing all con¬
nection with the National Society. Such
application must be made through the
General Secretary of the National Society
concerned who shall be under obligation
duly to forward such application to the
President as expeditiously as possible.
This shall equally apply in the case of the
admission of any new member.

(b) A Fellow of The Theosophical
Society in good standing who is desirous
of leaving the National Society to which

he or she belongs or ought to belong under
Rule 30 and of joining another National
Society, may be permitted by the President
to do so provided such Fellow presents
reason sufficient in the opinion of the
President to justify such action, and
provided further that the application for
transfer is submitted with the approval of
the General Secretaries of both National
Societies concerned.

This rule shall apply equally in the case
of the admission of a new member.

(c) When a Lodge (Branch), for any
serious and weighty reason, sufficient
in the opinion of the President to justify
such action, is desirous of leaving the
National Society to which it belongs,
but is not desirous of leaving The Thco-
sophical Society, such Lodge (Branch)
may become directly attached to Head¬
quarters, Adyar, severing ail connec¬
tion with the National Society. Such
application must be made through the
General Secretary of the National Society
concerned who shall be under obliga¬
tion duly to forward such application
to the President as expeditiously as
possible.

Before any Lodge (Branch) shall have
the right to apply to be directly attached
to Headquarters, Adyar, it shall have
mailed to each of its members individually
a notice that such application is about to
be considered. Such notice must be
mailed not less than two weeks before the
meeting at which such consideration is to
take place, and voting on the application
shall be deferred until two months after
that meeting. If at such first meeting, or
any succeeding meeting pursuant thereto,
it is decided to bring the application to a
vote as herein provided, a full report of
the reasons for such action shall at once
be sent to the General Secretary of the
National Society concerned.

Any application for separation from
the National Society to which a Lodge

134

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

(Branch) belongs shall be ineffective unless
two-thirds of the members of the Lodge
(Branch) vote in favor thereof.

(</) In the event of any undue delay
in the transmission of any application
under any of the foregoing provisions of
this Rule, a correct copy of such applica¬
tion (duly signed or otherwise authenti¬
cated) may be transmitted directly to the
President by the Fellow or Lodge (Branch)
concerned, and the President may act on
such copy if in his absolute discretion
it appears to him to be fit or proper
that he should so act. Any action
so taken by the President shall be as
valid and effectual, for all purposes,
as if it had been taken on the original
application submitted for transmission
to the President. The Fellow or Lodge
(Branch), when forwarding such copy
to the President directly, shall state the
full grounds and reasons for the direct
transmission.

32. Lodges (Branches) or Fellows-at-
large, in countries where no National
Society exists, must apply for their
Charters or Diplomas (Certificates)
directly to the Recording Secretary, and
may not, without the sanction of the
President, belong to National Societies
within the territorial limits of which they
are not situated or resident.

33. Any seven Fellows may apply to
be chartered as a Lodge (Branch). In a
country where no National Society exists
the application must be forwarded to the
President of the Society through the
Recording Secretary.

34. The President shall have authority
to grant or refuse applications for Char¬
ters, which, if issued, must bear his signa¬
ture and that of the Recording Secretary,
and the Seal of the Society, and be
recorded at the Headquarters of the
Society.

35. (a) A National Society may be
formed by the President, upon the appli¬

cation of seven or more chartered Lodges
(Branches).

(6) Upon the application of seven
or more chartered Lodges (Branches) in
areas which are territorially adjacent
and in which there are not sufficient
Lodges (Branches) for each national
group to form a National Society, the
President shall have authority at his
discretion to issue (and to cancel)
a Charter constituting such Lodges
(Branches) into a Section. The Charter
shall confer the same powers as one
issued to a National Society. In all
respects the rules applying to National
Societies shall apply to any group of
Lodges (Branches) holding a Charter
under this rule.

(c) The President shall have author¬
ity at his discretion to issue (and to
cancel) a certificate of Federation to any
national or territorially adjacent group of
Lodges (Branches) not sufficient in num¬
ber or otherwise unable to form or to
maintain a National Society, as defined
in these Rules, or where in his judgment
territorial division or other causes have
made such Federation necessary or desir¬
able. Any such Federation may elect an
Organizing Secretary or other executive
officer or officers for the purpose of further
organization and the transaction of Fede¬
ration business.

A Federation shall not appoint a
General Secretary (as the term is used in
these Rules) nor be represented on the
General Council. In all other respects
the Rules applicable to National Societies
and to General Secretaries shall apply to
Federations and to their chief execu¬
tives.

(d) The President shall have author¬
ity at his discretion to appoint and to
withdraw appointments of Presidential
Agents to act under his instructions for
the purposes of conducting the business
and administration of the Society in any

RULES OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

135

place and in any respect not inconsistent
with these Rules. Each such appointment
and the power delegated to each such
Agent shall be evidenced by a Letter of
Appointment referring to this Rule.

36. All Charters of National Societies
or Lodges (Branches) and all Diplomas
(Certificates) of membership derive their
authority from the President, acting as
Executive Officer of the General Council
of the Society, and may be cancelled by
the same authority.

If at any time the number of members
in good standing of a National Society
falls below 49. the Recording Secretary
shall report that fact to the General
Council. If during the following three
years the membership of the National
Society remains below 49, the General
Council shall then call upon the President
to withdraw its Charter.

37. Each Lodge (Branch) and National
Society shall have the power to make its
own Rules which shall not be incompatible
with the Rules of the National Society
to which the Lodge (Branch) belongs
or with the Rules of The Thcosophical
Society.

All Rules of Lodges (Branches) and
National Societies and amendments there¬
to shall be submitted for approval within
thirty days of their adoption as follows:
In the case of a Lodge (Branch) belonging
to a National Society, all such Rules and
amendments shall be submitted to the
General Secretary of that National So¬
ciety; in the case of a National Society
or of a Lodge (Branch) not situated
within the territory of a National Society
or of a Lodge directly attached to Adyar
under Rule 31 (c) all such Rules or amend¬
ments thereto shall be submitted directly
to the President.

All Rules and amendments shall be put
into force if approval has not been refused
within ninety days of acknowledgment of
their receipt.

If by a change made in a Rule of The
Theosophical Society, any Rule of a
National Society, which at its inception
was not incompatible with the Rules of
The Theosophical Society, ceases to be
compatible, such a Rule of the National
Society shall cease to be valid and shall be
amended so as to be in consonance with
the Rules of The Theosophical Society.

If by a change made in a Rule of a
National Society, any Rule of a Lodge
(Branch) which at its inception was not
incompatible with the Rules of the
National Society, ceases to be compatible,
such a Rule of the Lodge (Branch) shall
cease to be valid and shall be amended
so as to be in consonance with the Rules
of the National Society.

38. Every National Society must ap¬
point a General Secretary, who shall be
the channel of official communication
between the General Council and the
National Society.

39. The General Secretary of each
National Society shall forward to the
President, annually, not later than the
first day of November, a report of the
year’s work of his Society, and at any
time furnish any further information
the President or General Council may
desire.

40. National Societies hitherto known
as Sections, which have been incorporated
under the name of “ The . . . Section of
The T.S.” before the year 1908, may retain
that name in their respective countries, in
order not to interfere with the incorpora¬
tion already existing, but shall be included
under the name of National Societies,
for all purposes in these Rules and
Regulations.

Finance

41. (a) The fees payable to the General
Treasury by Lodges (Branches) not com¬
prised within the limits of any National

136

THE REPORT OF THE THEOSOPHTCAL SOCIETY

Society arc as follows: for Charter, £1;
for each Diploma (Certificate) of Mem¬
bership. 5s.; for the Annual Subscription
of each Fellow, 5s.; and in the case of
Lodges (Branches) comprised within the
jurisdiction of a National Society, Federa¬
tion or Presidential Agency for Charter
£1, when printed at Adyar, or supplied
from Adyar Headquarters. The Annual
Subscription of each Fellow shall be the
amount prescribed for Annual Subscrip¬
tion by the by-laws or other regulations of
the National Society within which the
Lodge exists; or equivalents.

(b ) New members joining otherwise
than at the beginning of the year shall at
the time of admission pay their Annual
Subscription pro rata for the remaining
period of the fiscal year at the rate of
£0-1-3 per quarter.

42. Fcllows-at-large, resident within
the territory of a National Society under
the Provision of Rule 31 (a), shall pay to
the General Treasury as Entrance Fee and
as Annual Subscription the amounts pre¬
scribed by the by-laws or other regulations
of such National Society, but not less than
5s. and £1 respectively.

Fellows-at-large, not resident within the
territory of a National Society, shall pay
to the General Treasury an Entrance
Fee of 5s. and an Annual Subscription
of £1.

43. (a) Each National Society shall pay
into the General Treasury fifteen per cent
of the total amount of fees payable by
members to the Section and shall remit
the same to the Treasurer at Adyar on or
before the first day of September of the
current year, and the financial year of the
Society shall close on 30th September.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions
of Rule 41 (a) and Rule 42, the President
at his discretion may authorize Presiden¬
tial Agents to collect dues in territories to
which they have been appointed and to
remit in accordance with Rule 43 (a).

44. In the event of the cancellation of
any Charter under Rule 36. or the dissolu¬
tion of any National Society or of a Lodge
(Branch), the constituent Charter of the
National Society or of the Lodge (Branch),
granted by the President, shall ipso facto,
become forfeited or lapsed, and all pro¬
perty, real or personal, including Charters.
Diplomas (Certificates), Seal. Records and
other papers belonging to or in the custody
of such National Society or Lodge
(Branch) shall vest as follows:

(o) in the Society, in the case of a
National Society or of a Lodge (Branch)
not within the territory of a National
Society or of a Lodge (Branch) coming
under Rule 31 ( c ), (except where the law
of the country where the National Society
or Lodge (Branch) is situated prohibits
such vesting, in which case the property
shall vest as hereinafter provided), and
delivery shall be made to the President, or
to his nominee on his behalf.

(b) in the National Society in which
the Lodge (Branch) is situated, in the case
of a Lodge (Branch) within the territory
of a National Society, said Lodge (Branch)
not coming under Rule 31 (c), and delivery
shall be made to the General Secretary of
the said National Society.

No National Society or Lodge (Branch)
whose Charter shall have become forfeited
or lapsed shall continue to use the
name, motto, or seal of the Society
except for the purpose of vesting in the
Society or in the National Society as the
case may be the real and personal pro¬
perty of such National Society or Lodge
(Branch).

Provided, nevertheless, that the Presi¬
dent shall have power to revive the Char¬
ter of the National Society or the Lodge
(Branch), as the case may be. whose
Charter shall have become so forfeited or
lapsed, and to transfer the said Charter to
other Lodges (Branches) being not fewer
than seven in number, or to other Fellows

RULES OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

137

being not less than seven in number, as
the case may be, or to such other nominees
of his as in his judgment shall seem best
for the interests of the Society.

In cases under ( a ) above, where such
vesting in the Society is prohibited by the
law of the country in which is situated the
National Society or the Lodge (Branch)
whose Charter has become forfeited or
lapsed as aforesaid, the property shall vest
in a local Trustee or Trustees appointed
by the President.

To effect any transfer of property, to
which the Society may become entitled
under this Rule, it shall be lawful for the
President to appoint an agent or nominee
for the purpose of executing any necessary
document or documents, or for taking
any steps necessary effectually to transfer
the said property to the Society.

45. The financial accounts of the
Society shall be audited annually by quali¬
fied Auditors who shall be appointed by
the General Council at each Annual
Meeting for the ensuing year.

Meeting

46. The Annual General Meeting or
Convention of the Society shall be held in
India in the month of December, at such
place as shall be determined by the Execu¬
tive Committee in June of each year.
Lodges (Branches) desirous of inviting the

Convention and able to make due arrange¬
ments for its accommodation, shall send
the invitation in March of the current
year, with particulars of the arrangements
they propose to make.

47. At least once in every seven years
a World Congress of The Theosophical
Society may be held out of India, at
a place and date to be fixed by the
General Council, but so as not to
interfere with the Annual Convention in
India.

48. The President shall have the power
to convene special meetings of the Society
at his discretion.

Revision

49. The General Council, of their own
motion or on the motion of the Executive
Committee and after at least three months’
notice has been given to each member of
said Council, may, by a three-fourths vote
of those members who vote in person,
in writing, or by proxy, make, alter or
repeal the Rules and Regulations of the
Society, in such manner as it may deem
expedient.

50. The General Council may frame
by-laws not inconsistent with these Rules
and Regulations and may add to, alter, or
repeal such by-laws, consistently with the
said Rules and Regulations, as it may
deem expedient.

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Full text of "General report of the anniversary and convention of the Theosophical Society 1971"

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